Student Handbook 2024/25 (Cert IP / Cert Trade Mark Law and Practice AND MSc Management of IP)

29.2. Intellectual Property PGCert

Semester dates

Module Selection

The programme consists of 4 compulsory modules amounting to 60 credits in total.

Module selection will take place automatically.

 

Semester 1

IPLC132 Design and Copyright Law

This module offers an overview of the main copyright and design principles established under international, EU and UK law. The main focus is on UK copyright and design. Authorities from other jurisdictions will be used, where relevant, as a means of comparison to afford a cohesive basic knowledge of the subject area.

This module is designed to provide the students with an in-depth knowledge of the legal principles governing the areas of designs and copyright with reference to intellectual property in general but more specifically to the UKIPO and the EUIPO. Students will also obtain practical insights into the particularities of the subject areas and become acquainted with legal as well as practical issues arising in the context of due diligence processes involved.

Mode of assessment: 4 hours exam

Credits: 15

IPLC134 Fundamentals of Law and Professional Ethics

This module aims to give students general knowledge of the English legal system in order to understand sources of law, the effects on intellectual property and the interaction between intellectual property and other areas of law. Students will obtain knowledge of the legal system and legal language and the ability to apply this understanding to various legal questions. Students will also study the core elements and principles of professional ethics in relation to the field of intellectual property.

Students receive a pre-teaching study pack 1 month prior to the start of the programme.

Mode of assessment: Multiple Choice Quiz (30%) and 2500 word essay (70%)

Credits: 15

IPLC140 Trade Mark Law

This module is designed to provide the students with an in-depth knowledge of the legal principles governing the registrability of signs as national UK trade marks and European Union Trade Marks (EUTMs). The module will focus on distinguishing between those signs that may constitute subject matter capable of being protected as a registered trade mark and the signs that must be excluded from registration in light of public interest considerations or earlier rights of third parties. Registration procedures at the UKIPO and the EUIPO will be covered as well. Students will also obtain practical insights into the particularities of trade mark commercialization and become acquainted with legal as well as practical issues arising in the context of due diligence processes involving trade marks.

This module is also designed to provide the students with an in-depth knowledge of the legal principles governing the infringement of registered trade mark rights and the defences to trade mark infringement suits. Students will also become acquainted with the legal and practical aspects of the procedures related to the revocation and the invalidity of trade mark registrations both from the UKIPO and the EUIPO perspective.

Registration and maintenance will be examined from a comparative perspective by looking at the corresponding rules of selected key jurisdictions. In order to provide students with a complete picture of trade mark protection at an international level, the module covers the major international treaties regulating the protection of trade marks. Students will also have an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the various filing strategies that traders have the option of resorting to when seeking to obtain trade mark protection in foreign markets.

The module examines the protection of unregistered commercial symbols through the law of passing off in the UK and the unfair competition laws of selected jurisdictions.

A wide array of special topics are covered in-depth including parallel imports, the protection of marks with a reputation, trade mark infringement on the Internet, protection of domain names etc.

Mode of assessment: Exam Paper A (50%) 4 hours and Exam Paper B (50%) 4 hours

Credits: 30

IPCL141 Patent Law

The module will begin with an introduction to the basic principles of patent law. The body of the module will be concerned with the character, structure and drafting of patents, primarily within the UK but with a reference to other jurisdictions. The module will examine in light of statute and case law, the key terms common to such licensing agreements; ownership; grant of intellectual property; territorial exclusivity; invention improvement; sublicensing; royalties; warranties; indemnities and dispute resolution.

Mode of assessment: Multiple Choice Quiz (50%) and 4 hour exam (50%)

Credits: 20

Dissertation/Study Project Requirement

There is no dissertation element for this programme.