The field of Intellectual Property Law is of growing contemporary importance. As well as dealing with the protection of literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works, it is also concerned with the commercially important protection of rights in inventions, trade marks and computer programs. The class of Intellectual Property Law and the Market aims to provide an introduction to substantive Intellectual Property Law in a European and international context and to give an overview of the interaction between intellectual property rights and markets.

10 x 2 hour seminars in semester 1.

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The course is assessed by an essay of 1500 words (25%) and a 2 hour final examination (75%).

The principal aim of the course is to promote familiarity and understanding of Intellectual Property Law (IP Law) in the United Kingdom and Europe, to situate that understanding within an international context and to promote an appreciation of the exercise of IP rights in the market place.

Further aims are to:

■ develop the analytical and critical skills of students by detailed examination of the relevant legislation, conventions and cases governing IP law;

■ develop the "transferable" oral communication skills of students through the use of both staff-led and student-led seminars;

■ instil in students an ability to constructively criticise current IP law and to suggest and evaluate possible reforms;

■ provide students with an understanding of some of the practical applications of IP law;

■ foster critical understanding and evaluation of areas of controversy within this area of law;

■ encourage independent learning.

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

1. identify the various potential aims of IP law;

2. differentiate between approaches taken in various legal systems to the protection of IP;

3. evaluate and criticise constructively these approaches, and their limitations, with reference to the aims already identified;

4. apply their knowledge of substantive IP law in a competent manner to constructing a coherent argument in discussion of topics arising in this field;.

5. demonstrate an understanding of the EU and international context within which IP law operates.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course summative assessment.