LAW - 875A International Patent Law

2 unit(s)
This course provides students with an introduction to the contemporary administration and enforcement of international patent law. Given the current U.S. and international focus on the protection of international intellectual property and its impact on international trade, it should be of interest to all internationally oriented thinkers as well as intellectual property practitioners. The course is divided into an introductory section and a practical application section.

The introductory section provides an overview of International Law and how Intellectual Property Law fits into that legal system. This introductory segment provides students with a basic understanding of fundamental principles of International Law and how it differs from domestic law. Typical subject matter will include areas such as fundamental concepts of International Law (customary law and treaty law) and the international institutions (such as the World Trade Organization - “WTO”), organizations (such as the World Intellectual Property Organization - “WIPO”), and agreements ( such as the WTO Agreement, the GATT, and the Patent Cooperation Treaty) that deal with the worldwide administration and enforcement of intellectual property rights.

The practical application section allows students to apply what they have learned about these international institutions, organizations, and agreements to the solution of real-world administration enforcement issues. The practical application will entail case analyses and document preparation that provide the students with a practical skillset. While this course focuses on issues arising from the international registration and protection of patents, those issues are generally applicable to the international registration and protection of trademarks and copyrights as well. As such, this course is appropriate for all Intellectual Property students. This course does not require the technical or scientific background typically required of patent practitioners. The subject matter we will cover will typically be applicable (in principle) to all forms of intellectual property and adjustments can be made to include and accommodate other types of intellectual property protection as necessary. This course counts toward completion of the Upper-Division Writing Requirement as a practice-based writing course.

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