Module Identifier | LA32510 | |||||||||||
Module Title | INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW | |||||||||||
Academic Year | 2004/2005 | |||||||||||
Co-ordinator | Mrs Ruth D Atkins | |||||||||||
Semester | Semester 1 | |||||||||||
Pre-Requisite | LA10110 or LA30110 or LA15710 | |||||||||||
Co-Requisite | LA15830 or LA35830 | |||||||||||
Course delivery | Lecture | 20 Hours Two one hour lectures per week | ||||||||||
Seminars / Tutorials | 4 Hours Seminar. Four one hour seminars during the semester | |||||||||||
Assessment |
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Professional Exemptions | Not Required for Professional Purposes |
Intellectual skills
Seminars and assessment methods focus on the skills of problem solving and policy evaluation, plus the assessment and interpretation of source material and its practical application.
Much of the information is available only electronically. Study of this module will enhance students Information Technology skills particularly in terms of the use of electronic databases and the Internet.
Intellectual property is used by us all. Coca Cola Co. has a trade secret in its formula for Coke and a multi-billion pound trade mark. They pay 148,000 pounds per day to the inventor of the ring pull on drinks cans for the use of his patent. Bambi and Snow White were released on video so that Walt Disney Co. could maximise revenue from the copyright in the film before it expired. 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.
The aim of this course is to study the legal framework of patents, copyrights, designs and trade marks; their exploitation in the market place; and the extent to which their use is restrained because of factors such the free flow of information and competition policies. It is hoped that it will also increase awareness of the economic importance of cultural property and technological advances.
Lectures, seminars and the assessment method for this module focuses on
the key skills of statutory interpretation and problem solving,
ensuring that students recognise and understand the policies underpinning the law at the national, European and international levels,
the importance of Intellectual Property protection to industries such as sound recording, film, television, publishing and software engineering, and
the public interest in the free flow of information in the digital age.
Copyright
International and European framework and initiative
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
Unregistered trade marks
Common law action of Passing Off
Registered trade marks
International and Community registration
Requirements for registration
Rights conferred and scope of protection
Infringement of trade marks
Designs
Registered design system
Requirements for registration
Community protection
Unregistered design right
Patents
Novelty
Inventive step
Industrial application
European initiatives
Patentability of computer software
This module is at CQFW Level 6