This module introduces students to a range of key contemporary issues in intellectual property, encompassing patents, copyright and trade marks. It studies intellectual property law in its historical, political, economic and cultural contexts. Students will learn about key conceptual debates in intellectual property scholarship and gain an in-depth insight into the making and practice of intellectual property law.
This module examines some of the most pressing current issues arising from intellectual property law. Intellectual property does not only comprise intellectual property law, but all proprietary practices and strategies relating to knowledge. The module approaches the study of intellectual property law by drawing upon its historical, economic, cultural and scientific contexts and tracing their influence on the current legal framework. It will introduce students to some of the key debates in intellectual property law, for example: the relationship between patents and innovation; the effects of IP monopolies on access to medicine; copyright and notions of creativity; the relationship between trade mark and branding.
Topics that may be explored in this regard include:
Course contents may be subject to change to reflect the most current issues relating to intellectual property.
With a focus on the making of intellectual property law and its practices, students will acquire in-depth insight into the politics, commercial rationale, and rhetoric underlying intellectual property law. They will develop the ability to critically evaluate the current intellectual property legal framework and its resulting political, cultural, and economic implications.
Readings will be drawn from multidisciplinary intellectual property scholarship, including anthropology, history, science studies, economics, and the arts and literature, encouraging a differentiated and critical assessment of intellectual property law’s effects and limitations.
This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.
An Indicative list of topics under consideration might include (may be subject to change):
By the end of the module, students should be able to:
A selection of indicative reading:
Research will be done for the final 4,000 word assessment.
The module will draw on different disciplines to grasp the contemporary issues of intellectual property.
The module will engage with transnational and international analysis of contemporary intellectual problems.
Grasp systematic knowledge of contemporary issues in the various fields of intellectual property (copyright, patents, trade marks and neighbouring rights) in both the domestic and global arenas;
Practice informed scholarly debate ;
Propose creative reforms and solutions to law reform problems;
Conduct comprehensive research and produce scholarly essays;
Critical analysis;
Critical debate;
Problem identification;
Literature Review and analysis
Grasp systematic knowledge of contemporary issues in the various fields of intellectual property (copyright, patents, trade marks and neighbouring rights) in both the domestic and global arenas;
Practice informed scholarly debate ;
Propose creative reforms and solutions to law reform problems;
Conduct comprehensive research and produce scholarly essays;
Critical analysis;
Critical debate;
Problem identification;
Literature Review and analysis
| Type | Required |
|---|---|
| Seminars | 9 sessions of 3 hours (14%) |
| Private study | 138 hours (69%) |
| Assessment | 35 hours (18%) |
| Total | 200 hours |
Private study.
No further costs have been identified for this module.
You must pass all assessment components to pass the module.
| Weighting | Study time | Eligible for self-certification | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4000 word essay | 100% | 35 hours | Yes (extension) |
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Students should answer one out of the available listed questions. |
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Feedback via Tabula
This module is Core option list B for:
This module is Option list B for: