LWMCIP: Contemporary Issues in Intellectual Property Law

Module code: LWMCIP

Module provider: School of Law

Credits: 20

Level: Postgraduate Masters

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Dr Santiago Ekaratne, email: s.c.ekaratne@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 16 September 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module aims to provide advanced knowledge of intellectual property law. The main focus is the intellectual property law of England and Wales. Where relevant, comparative references are also made to relevant laws of other jurisdictions, and to international harmonisation where appropriate.

This module explores several areas of intellectual property law through the lens of contemporary issues informed by the latest research. Topics covered include copyright, trade marks and patents.

In discussion-based seminars, students will be encouraged to critically analyse statutory provisions and case law that govern these areas of intellectual property law, as well as the rationales justifying particular doctrines. The module also aims to build students’ abilities to apply relevant intellectual property law to issues of contemporary relevance.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to: 

1. Demonstrate knowledge of several areas of intellectual property law;  
2. Identify and critically analyse intellectual property issues in factual situations of contemporary relevance; 
3. Apply relevant law to such situations;  
4. Identify and critically evaluate several comparative aspects of intellectual property law, where the law of England and Wales differs from laws of certain other jurisdictions.

Module content

The module covers several areas of intellectual property law. The main focus of the module is the law of England and Wales, with comparative references to selected other jurisdictions and international harmonisation where relevant. For each area of intellectual property law, the module explores relevant statutory and case law, as well as contemporary issues and examples. The module invites critical reflection on the application of intellectual property law in light of contemporary ethical and commercial considerations.  

The topics that will be discussed in this module may include:  

• Copyright law
• Registered trade mark law 
• Patent law
• Laws relevant to protection of image, personality and publicity

Topics discussed in the class will be adapted to reflect current issues in intellectual property law. 

Structure

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, videos or similar resources, with notes and questions that will be used to guide class discussion and reflection. 
• Eleven 2-hour seminars. Seminars are discussion-based classes.  
• Formative assessment and feedback aimed to help students achieve in the summative assessments.
• Summative assessments aimed to develop students’ skills and knowledge. 

Study hours

At least 22 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 50% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• 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 three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/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.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

In-class self-assessment on report-writing as scaffolding activity for summative assessment reports. 

Reassessment

Additional costs