Course description
Course Summary
Intellectual property especially at international level is a fast-growing area of the law that requires specialist, structured study of the area.
This Master's course is designed for law graduates from anywhere in the world who wish to develop a specialist knowledge of the increasingly important field of intellectual property law and related areas.
Course Details
On the International Intellectual Property Law programme, you take four taught modules running concurrently through the teaching year from October to May. Students must take the two compulsory modules:
* Fundamentals of Intellectual Property Law
* International Intellectual Property Law.
A further two taught modules must also be taken, and these may be chosen from those listed below. Note that students may choose 30 credits of modules in other parts of the School or on other LLM programmes run by the School.
You will also do a dissertation.
Core Modules
Fundamentals of Intellectual Property Law
The module aims to provide students with essential knowledge about the theoretical rationales and policy arguments for the recognition of intellectual property rights. Further, it seeks to explain the basic principles of Intellectual Property Law, nature and scope of such rights, procedures, both national and supranational, for the granting and recognition of the rights, mechanisms for enforcement as well as defences against enforcement.
International Intellectual Property Law
This course will focus on the European and international developments in Intellectual Property Law. Students will review the national and international protection of Copyrights, Trademarks, Patent and Sui Generis rights. This will include the study of WIPO treaties and TRIPS as well as European legislation.
Dissertation
After the taught modules have been completed in May, if you are taking the LLM you will work on your dissertation under the supervision of a member of Law staff on a topic in Intellectual Property Law, agreed between you and the Programme Director. This will provide you with an opportunity to deepen your understanding of a particular area of interest in Intellectual Property Law. The dissertation is due at the end of September.
Elective Modules
Two from a selection that currently includes:
International Trade Law
Will include the study of the law governing international contracts for the supply of goods, including the issues of transport, insurance, finance, arbitration, conflicts of laws, and international harmonisation of laws.
International Economic Law
The law governing economic relations between states, and in particular the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and its rules on the supply of goods and services, tariffs, subsidies and dumping.
International Financial Law
The nature and function of banking, securities, and financial markets; European and international legal regulation of financial markets; the role of international financial organisations.
Intellectual Property Practice and Management
The course will prepare students for the challenges they will face when they enter practice as it will cover all major practical knowledge needed in a competitive International IP industry.
European and International Environmental Law
You will study the framework of environmental protection in the European Union and the relationship with market integration; the enforcement of EU environmental law; WTO law on environmental protection and the relationship with EU law.
Intellectual Property, the Media and the Internet
Main topics of study: copyright; trade marks; freedom of expression and the protection of IP looking at issues relating to the use of protected works and trademarks in boycott campaign for example or in defamation on and off line.
Note: modules are subject to withdrawal at the School's discretion.
Assessment
For each module you will be assessed twice, first by way of a written essay and then by way of a "seen" or "pre-release" examination, where the question paper is released a short time before the day of the exam. Each assessment is worth 50% of the overall mark.
Teaching Methods
The teaching will usually take the form of classes, involving discussion of prepared reading, supplemented by lecturing from the module teacher to introduce and consolidate the discussion. Use of WebCT, our online learning environment, will also help reinforce learning.
