IP Student Handbook 2024/25

Semester 1: 08 September – 12 December 2025 During this period you will be attending modules lectures and tutorials (all modules are compulsory)
08 – 11 September 2025	Fundamentals of Law and Ethics (IPLC134) - taught twice daily (Intensive 4-day course)
15 September 2025 – 12 December 2025	Weekly teaching starts for the following modules: ·         IPLC140 (Trade Mark Law) ·         IPLC141 (Patent Law) ·         IPLC132 (Copyright and Design Law)   Please consult timetable when available
09 October 2025	Fundamentals of Law and Ethics (IPLC134) assessment (Multiple Choice Quiz element)
12 December 2025	Teaching ends
15 December – 02 January 2026	Study Period
Examination Period: 8 January - 23 January 2026
Resit Examination Period: 07 May – 05 June 2026

 

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 is designed to provide the students with an in-depth knowledge of the legal principles governing 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 both from the UKIPO and the EUIPO perspective. The module is specifically aimed at those students from a non-law background who wish to become patent and/or trade mark attorneys. It forms part of the professional exemption process for non-law graduates wishing to become part qualified professionals within the UK system. Students are encouraged to participate in class. A principal goal is to develop practical skills useful in identifying specific design & copyright, and more general intellectual property rights and the manner in which they work together in “real world” scenarios.

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.

Assessment: Multiple Choice Quiz (30%) and 2500 word essay (70%) Credits: 15

IPLC140 Trade Mark Law

This module is primarily designed to provide participants with an in-depth knowledge of the legal rules and principles governing the registrability of signs as national UK trade marks and the maintenance, the exploitation as well as the enforcement of registered trade mark rights in the UK. The module also examines the protection of unregistered commercial symbols through the law of passing off in the UK. Emphasis is placed on the distinction 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. The relevant registration procedures at the UKIPO will be covered as well.

The focus would then shift to the legal rules related to the infringement of registered trade mark rights and the defenses to claims of trade mark infringement. A wide array of special topics will be covered in-depth including parallel imports, the protection of marks with a reputation, trade mark infringement on the internet, protection of domain names etc. After covering registrability and infringement, issues related to the validity and removal of trade marks from the register will be discussed. The module will also cover issues related to bad faith applications including the problem of broad specifications. Participants will 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. In addition, the module offers a detailed overview of the European system for protecting European Union Trade Marks (EUTMs). Participants 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. In that regard, participants will become acquainted with the relevant international instruments for protecting trade marks.

Mode of assessment: Exam Multiple Choice Quiz 20 QNS (20%) 90 minutes;

Exam (80%) 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 (20%) and 4 hour exam (80%) Credits: 20