IP Student Handbook 2024/25

Semester Dates

08 – 12 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: IPLC132 (Copyright and Design Law) IPLC136 (Trade Mark Law A)   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
Semester 1 Examination Period: 8 January - 23 January 2026
Semester 2:  26 January – 10 April 2026 During this period, you will be attending modules, lectures, and tutorials (all modules are compulsory)
26 January – mid-March 2025	Weekly teaching starts for the following modules: IPLC137 (Trade Mark Law B)   Please consult timetable when available
Semester 2 Examination Period: 7 May - 5 June 2026
Semester 1 Resit Examination Period: 7 May - 5 June 2026
Semester 2 Resit Examination Period: 3 August - 14 August 2026

 

 

Module Selection

The programme consists of 4 compulsory modules amounting to 60 credits in total. Module selection will take place automatically.

Students with agreed advance standing will be exempt from Law part of module IPLC134.

Dissertation/Study Project Requirement: There is no dissertation element for this programme.

Semester 1

IPLC132 Design and Copyright Law (IPReg D&C)

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 credits

IPLC134 Fundamentals of Law and Professional Ethics (IPReg FL & PE) (IPReg Pats)

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. In particular, they will gain an overview of legal principles and their application to various situations and problems. Students will acquire skills and experience in the assimilation and analysis of complex material from various sources, and will present the relevant knowledge and understanding through reasoned and supported research papers.

The module will promote research skills as well as deliver practical and commercial skills for further training or research as desired.

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

IPLC136 Trade Mark Law A (IPReg TMs Part A)

This module is primarily designed to provide participants with an in-depth knowledge of the legal principles governing the registrability of signs as national UK trade marks and the maintenance as well as the economic exploitation of UK registered trade mark rights. Emphasis will be 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. After covering registrability, issues related to the validity and removal of trade marks from the register will be discussed. 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 laws and procedures related to the acquisition of European Union Trade Marks (EUTMs).

The module also contains a comparative element covering selected aspects of the law related to the acquisition of trade mark rights in the US and China.

Mode of Assessment: 4 hours exam Credits: 15

 

Semester 2

IPLC137 Trade Mark Law B (IPReg TMs Part B)

This module is primarily designed to provide participants with an in-depth knowledge of the legal principles governing the enforcement of UK registered trade mark rights. Accordingly, the module covers the legal rules related to the infringement of UK registered trade mark rights, the defences to trade mark infringement suits as well as the types of available remedies and their potential scope. The coverage of trade mark enforcement extends to border controls and the criminal aspects of trade mark protection. The module also covers 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. The module addresses issues related to bad faith applications including the problem of broad specifications. Participants will 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. In addition, the module offers a detailed overview of the laws and procedures related to the maintenance and enforcement of European Union Trade Marks (EUTMs). The module also contains a comparative element covering selected aspects of the law related to the infringement of trade mark rights in the US and China.

Mode of Assessment: 4 hours exam Credits: 15