Module Information
Course Delivery
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | Essay 2000 Words | 50% |
| Semester Exam | 2 Hours Written Exam | 50% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Essay 2000 Words | 50% |
| Supplementary Exam | 2 Hours Written Exam | 50% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of the way in which intellectual property is regulated by the law with particular reference to the policy issues behind any decisions to protect intellectual property or to consign it to the public domain.
2. Demonstrate knowledge of the statutory provisions and case law relating to copyright, designs, patents and trade marks.
3. Describe and comment upon the often conflicting interests of the creators, the rights owners and the users of intellectual property.
4. Explain and apply statutory provision to a range of situations.
5. Illustrate the role intellectual property plays in commerce and industry.
Brief description
Intellectual property law looks at the legal protection of new ideas and new products. It is an area where law is constantly responding to technological change. Intellectual property is used by us all and operates in several layers, with rights and protection arising in a number of ways. For example, Coca Cola Co. has a trade secret in its formula for Coke and a multi-billion pound trade mark. They pay a considerable sum per day to the inventor of the ring pull on drinks cans for the use of his patent. Perhaps of less economic significance, but of no less importance in terms of intellectual property protection, students generate copyrights in all their written work and make constant use of the copyrights of others in books, journals, software, databases and the Internet.
Content
- Copyright
- International and European framework and initiatives National legislation: Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 Categories of Works.
- Criteria for Protection Authorship.
- Duration of Copyright.
- Rights of the Copyright Owner Exploitation of Rights Infringement and Defences.
- Trade Marks - Registered and Unregistered Designs - Registered and Unregistered Patents.
- Novelty Inventive step.
- Industrial application European initiatives.
- Patentability of computer software.
- Contemporary issues in IP law.
- Commercial and Industrial applications of intellectual property.
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Application of Number | Recommended topic for any considering working in commercial practice or IP related sector. N/A |
| Communication | Seminar discussions/activities develop individual and group presentation and oral argument + courtroom scenarios. |
| Improving own Learning and Performance | Seminar participation and exam preparation develop different aspects of academic research, from understanding and referencing sources through the dissemination of ideas to others orally (unassessed), and developing written communication skills (assessed). |
| Information Technology | Library and research skills are fundamental to preparation for seminars and assessed work. |
| Personal Development and Career planning | Recommended topic for any considering working in commercial practice or IP related sector. |
| Problem solving | Seminar discussion/preparation and debate. |
| Research skills | Research and preparation for seminars and assessments. |
| Subject Specific Skills | Reading and understanding legal materials particular to the law of intellectual property. |
| Team work | Group activities and discussion. |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 5