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This module will allow you to explore some key areas of intellectual property law, such as trademarks, copyright and patents. Emphasis is placed on the process of European Union (EU) harmonisation of intellectual property rights, and its implications for UK law, also in relation to Brexit.

Some of the questions addressed in this course include: What is an ‘invention’ and is it industrially application? Who can be considered an author? What does ‘originality’ mean in a copyright context? Do you need permission from the copyright holder to provide links to his/her content over the internet? Can you resell your videogames, ebooks and iTunes music tracks? What form of IP protection is available to those businesses that use signs and symbols in the course of trade? What is a trade mark, and what are its functions? What is character and personality merchandising, and how can you have someone endorse your products?

This module allows and encourages you to undertake a critical analysis of the state of the law in the field of trademarks, copyright and patents, as well as international influences and the impact of harmonisation at the EU level.

Whilst seminar materials are provided, significant emphasis is placed on self-learning, enabling the seminars to concentrate on specific topics and issues.

To those interested in intellectual property (IP) law these are incredibly challenging and exciting times. At the EU level, debate around further harmonisation and review especially of copyright law has intensified over the past few years, and is very lively at the moment also on account of the activity (and activism) of the Court of Justice of the European Union. EU Member States have been reforming their own laws, also to provide a legal environment that favours innovation and creativity. Reform proposals have been also tabled in a number of Asian countries and Australia, considering whether the approaches under US and EU laws should be also taken there.

To those interested in intellectual property (IP) law these are incredibly challenging and exciting times. At the EU level, debate around further harmonisation and review especially of copyright law has intensified over the past few years, and is very lively at the moment also on account of the activity (and activism) of the Court of Justice of the European Union. EU Member States have been reforming their own laws, also to provide a legal environment that favours innovation and creativity. Reform proposals have been also tabled in a number of Asian countries and Australia, considering whether the approaches under US and EU laws should be also taken there.

To those interested in intellectual property (IP) law these are incredibly challenging and exciting times. At the EU level, debate around further harmonisation and review especially of copyright law has intensified over the past few years, and is very lively at the moment also on account of the activity (and activism) of the Court of Justice of the European Union. EU Member States have been reforming their own laws, also to provide a legal environment that favours innovation and creativity. Reform proposals have been also tabled in a number of Asian countries and Australia, considering whether the approaches under US and EU laws should be also taken there.

This module introduces students to the foundations of intellectual property law, exploring its key branches and underlying policy justifications. The course examines the main areas of IP protection including copyright, design law, breach of confidence, trade secrets, and geographical indications with particular emphasis on the role of IP in incentivising creativity, innovation, and fair competition. Students will engage with both UK and international perspectives, gaining a critical understanding of how IP rights operate in practice and in policy discourse.

The module begins by addressing the conceptual and theoretical underpinnings of IP, including philosophical, economic, and human rights justifications. Subsequent sections focus on specific regimes: copyright, designs, and breach of confidence/trade secrets, before concluding with an overview of geographical indications and contemporary challenges posed by artificial intelligence.

Key questions explored include:
Why do societies grant IP rights? Who can be considered an author? What does ‘originality’ mean in a copyright context? Do you need permission from the copyright holder to provide links to his/her content over the internet? Can you resell your videogames, eBooks and iTunes music tracks? Do you need permission from the copyright holder to make a parody of his/her work? Why is there such a thing as design right? Can both copyright and design protection subsist at the same time on the same work, and, if so, what are the relevant implications? What legal challenges does artificial intelligence pose for existing IP frameworks? How do human rights and international law influence IP policy and enforcement?

Students are encouraged to engage critically with both doctrinal and policy dimensions of the subject, evaluating the balance between private rights and the public interest. Whilst lecture and tutorial materials are provided, significant emphasis is placed on self-learning, enabling lectures and tutorials to concentrate on specific topics and issues.

This module introduces students to the core principles, doctrines, and policy considerations underpinning Patent Law, Trade Marks, and Passing Off. It examines how legal frameworks protect innovation and commercial reputation while critically analysing the tensions between private monopoly rights and broader public interests, including competition, market access, consumer protection, and fairness within the intellectual property system. While this module builds on and reinforces core intellectual property foundations, it is designed as a standalone module and differs from the Level 6 module by focusing specifically on patents, trade marks, and passing off, and by developing a more sophisticated understanding of doctrinal complexity alongside critical assessment of the regulatory and societal consequences of intellectual property protection in innovation and branding.

Through a combination of doctrinal analysis and policy critique, the module provides a comprehensive understanding of how these rights operate in both UK and international frameworks, and how they interact with related areas such as competition law, social justice, and enforcement.

The first part of the module focuses on patent law, considering the justification for granting exclusive rights to inventors, the requirements for patentability, and the scope of protection afforded. It also analyses infringement and available defences, highlighting the tension between innovation incentives and technological progress.

The second part turns to the law of passing off and trade marks, addressing how law protects commercial goodwill, branding, and consumer trust. Students will examine the processes of registration, grounds for refusal, infringement, and defences, and will critically assess the impact of trade mark expansion on market competition and freedom of expression.

The module concludes with a study of IP and social justice, IP and competition law, and remedies and enforcement, encouraging students to evaluate the broader socio-economic implications of IP protection.

Key questions explored include: When does one company’s marketing cross the line into misrepresentation and passing off? Do trade marks promote consumer protection or stifle competition? How should trade mark law balance freedom of expression against brand reputation? What defences are available to alleged infringers of patents and trade marks? How can IP frameworks promote social justice and innovation simultaneously?

Students are encouraged to think critically about the philosophical, economic, and policy underpinnings of these regimes and to engage in independent research to explore contemporary issues in patent and trade mark law.

This module introduces students to the core principles, doctrines, and policy considerations underpinning Patent Law, Trade Marks, and Passing Off. It examines how legal frameworks protect innovation and commercial reputation while critically analysing the tensions between private monopoly rights and broader public interests, including competition, market access, consumer protection, and fairness within the intellectual property system. While this module builds on and reinforces core intellectual property foundations, it is designed as a standalone module and differs from the Level 6 module by focusing specifically on patents, trade marks, and passing off, and by developing a more sophisticated understanding of doctrinal complexity alongside critical assessment of the regulatory and societal consequences of intellectual property protection in innovation and branding.

Through a combination of doctrinal analysis and policy critique, the module provides a comprehensive understanding of how these rights operate in both UK and international frameworks, and how they interact with related areas such as competition law, social justice, and enforcement.

The first part of the module focuses on patent law, considering the justification for granting exclusive rights to inventors, the requirements for patentability, and the scope of protection afforded. It also analyses infringement and available defences, highlighting the tension between innovation incentives and technological progress.

The second part turns to the law of passing off and trade marks, addressing how law protects commercial goodwill, branding, and consumer trust. Students will examine the processes of registration, grounds for refusal, infringement, and defences, and will critically assess the impact of trade mark expansion on market competition and freedom of expression.

The module concludes with a study of IP and social justice, IP and competition law, and remedies and enforcement, encouraging students to evaluate the broader socio-economic implications of IP protection.

Key questions explored include: When does one company’s marketing cross the line into misrepresentation and passing off? Do trade marks promote consumer protection or stifle competition? How should trade mark law balance freedom of expression against brand reputation? What defences are available to alleged infringers of patents and trade marks? How can IP frameworks promote social justice and innovation simultaneously?

Students are encouraged to think critically about the philosophical, economic, and policy underpinnings of these regimes and to engage in independent research to explore contemporary issues in patent and trade mark law.

This module introduces students to the core principles, doctrines, and policy considerations underpinning Patent Law, Trade Marks, and Passing Off. It examines how legal frameworks protect innovation and commercial reputation while critically analysing the tensions between private monopoly rights and broader public interests, including competition, market access, consumer protection, and fairness within the intellectual property system. While this module builds on and reinforces core intellectual property foundations, it is designed as a standalone module and differs from the Level 6 module by focusing specifically on patents, trade marks, and passing off, and by developing a more sophisticated understanding of doctrinal complexity alongside critical assessment of the regulatory and societal consequences of intellectual property protection in innovation and branding.

Through a combination of doctrinal analysis and policy critique, the module provides a comprehensive understanding of how these rights operate in both UK and international frameworks, and how they interact with related areas such as competition law, social justice, and enforcement.

The first part of the module focuses on patent law, considering the justification for granting exclusive rights to inventors, the requirements for patentability, and the scope of protection afforded. It also analyses infringement and available defences, highlighting the tension between innovation incentives and technological progress.

The second part turns to the law of passing off and trade marks, addressing how law protects commercial goodwill, branding, and consumer trust. Students will examine the processes of registration, grounds for refusal, infringement, and defences, and will critically assess the impact of trade mark expansion on market competition and freedom of expression.

The module concludes with a study of IP and social justice, IP and competition law, and remedies and enforcement, encouraging students to evaluate the broader socio-economic implications of IP protection.

Key questions explored include: When does one company’s marketing cross the line into misrepresentation and passing off? Do trade marks promote consumer protection or stifle competition? How should trade mark law balance freedom of expression against brand reputation? What defences are available to alleged infringers of patents and trade marks? How can IP frameworks promote social justice and innovation simultaneously?

Students are encouraged to think critically about the philosophical, economic, and policy underpinnings of these regimes and to engage in independent research to explore contemporary issues in patent and trade mark law.

This module gives a broad introduction to the new and rapidly expanding field of agent-based computing. It introduces the key concepts and models of the field, dealing both with the individual agents and with their interactions. Particular emphasis is placed on automated negotiation, cooperation and on-line auctions, and students are required to program a trading agent in Java which will compete in a class tournament within a simulated trading environment.

This module gives a broad introduction to the new and rapidly expanding field of agent-based computing. It introduces the key concepts and models of the field, dealing both with the individual agents and with their interactions. Particular emphasis is placed on automated negotiation, cooperation and on-line auctions, and students are required to program a trading agent in Java which will compete in a class tournament within a simulated trading environment.