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LWMTTT - Intellectual Property Law: Patents and Trade Marks

LWMTTT-Intellectual Property Law: Patents and Trade Marks

Module Provider: School of Law
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2022/3

Module Convenor: Mr Howard Johnson
Email: h.johnson2@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:
This module provides advanced knowledge of the legal protection that is afforded to inventions, trade names and brands. Students will be encouraged to critically assess statutory provisions and common law principles that govern patents and trade mark law, as well as the rationales justifying particular doctrines and the effects of the practical operation of these doctrines.

Aims:
This module aims to provide students with advanced knowledge of patent and trade mark law. The module also aims to enable students to appreciate and critically assess both the practical day to day operation of these areas of intellectual property law and the rationales for intellectual property protection.

Assessable learning outcomes:

On completion of the module, students will be expected to be able to:




  1. Demonstrate knowledge of the legal protection available for inventions and trade names, and the ability to critically assess topical issues in these legal areas;

  2. Identify the main rationales for the legal protection of patents and trade marks;

  3. Demonstrate the ability to ascertain the substantial law from legislation, case law and secondary literature, as appli ed to patents and trade marks.


Additional outcomes:

In addition to those listed in the School’s ‘core skills statement’, the module will encourage the development of:




  • High-level oral communication skills through reflective, analytical class discussion.

  • Advanced critical reading skills in relation to primary and/or secondary sources


Outline content:

The topics that will be discussed include: 




  1. Patents and trade marks: legislative framework, international obligations and EU harmonization;

  2. Obtaining a patent and the requirements for patentabilty: national applications, Patent Cooperation Treaty and European Patent Convention;

  3. Patent infringement and defences;

  4. Registering a European Union trade mark, national applications;

  5. Absolute and relat ive grounds for refusal of trade mark registrability, infringement, defences;

  6. The law of passing off.


Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

Teaching in this module is designed to provide students with a range of resources on which they can draw in their learning. The main elements are:




  • A list of required and recommended readings, with notes and questions that will be used to guide class discussion and reflection.

  • 6 seminars in the Spring term. Seminars are discussion based classes.

  • Assessed work that will be used to develop students' skills and knowledge.

Contact hours:
  Autumn Spring Summer
Seminars 12
Guided independent study: 88
       
Total hours by term 100
       
Total hours for module 100

Summative Assessment Methods:
Method Percentage
Written assignment including essay 100

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:
1 assessed essay of 8 pages (formatted in accordance with the School of Law's Assessed Work Rules)

Formative assessment methods:
1 optional non-assessed essay of 4 pages (formatted in accordance with the School of Law£s Assessed Work Rules)

Penalties for late submission:

The below information applies to students on taught programmes except those on Postgraduate Flexible programmes. Penalties for late submission, and the associated procedures, which apply to Postgraduate Flexible programmes are specified in the policy £Penalties for late submission for Postgraduate Flexible programmes£, which can be found here: http://www.reading.ac.uk/web/files/qualitysupport/penaltiesforlatesubmissionPGflexible.pdf
The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

  • where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
  • where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.
The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: http://www.reading.ac.uk/web/FILES/qualitysupport/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:
50% overall

Reassessment arrangements:
See School of Law PGT Programme Handbook

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1) Required text books: 

2) Specialist equipment or materials: 

3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear: 

4) Printing and binding: 

5) Computers and devices with a particular specification: 

6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence: 


Last updated: 15 June 2022

THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS MODULE DESCRIPTION DOES NOT FORM ANY PART OF A STUDENT'S CONTRACT.

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