Course Catalogue

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This course explores the role of law in the business of cultural and creative industries. It considers the impact of digital technologies on production, dissemination and use of creative content, examining and assessing the relevant legal framework and policy discussions in the UK and in Europe. While the course focuses on the copyright, it also makes connections with other areas of intellectual property and internet law.

10 two-hour seminars. See 'Additional Relevant Information'.

This course is only available to LLB students.

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An essay of no more than 5000 words (100%) providing a critical assessment of a given issue from the perspective of a chosen creative industry, which can be in a form of a legal report directed to a chosen industry giving an advisory position on a topical legal issue.

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. Where, exceptionally, reassessment on Honours courses is required to satisfy professional/accreditation requirements, only the overall course grade achieved at the first attempt will contribute to the Honours classification. For non-Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

The principal aim of this course is to provide students with legal knowledge and critical understanding of challenges and opportunities faced by creative and cultural industries in the digital environment. The course offers students an opportunity to reflect on the role law plays, particularly copyright, in a number of specific creative sectors, including but not limited to, book and news publishing, music, movies and video games. The course enables students to examine the legal provisions dealing with production and exploitation of creative works and distribution of accompanying revenue streams.

Students will develop their analytical and critical skills through this course. The course will encourage independent learning providing students with an opportunity to develop their own research. It will equip them with relevant legal knowledge applicable in the operation of creative industries.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Identify and discuss the main rules governing production, dissemination and use of creative content in the digital environment;

■ Evaluate the effectiveness of legal regulation from the perspective of creative industries;

■ Construct coherent arguments on the role of law in the regulation of creative industries;

■ Situate legal regulation of creative industries in a broader cultural, economic and societal context.

Completion of the summative assignment.