European and International Intellectual Property Law
The course provides an introduction to the European legal framework governing trademark, patent, copyright, and design law, and the substantive requirements and characteristics of each of these forms of protection. The course focuses on the practical aspects of intellectual property: students will learn how to recognise what aspects of a product can be protected and what infringement of rights looks like. Students will also understand the advantages and limitations of the various forms of protection available.
Course Objectives:
The primary objective of this course is to provide students with sufficient practical and theoretical knowledge and background of European intellectual property law to allow them to recognise and identify whether and to what extent the tangible and intangible business assets they may come into contact with in a business environment are protectable by means of intellectual property rights. In addition to gaining an understanding of the characteristics and functions of intellectual property rights, students will learn how EU intellectual property rights can be obtained and enforced in practice.
Achievement levels:
The following achievement levels apply with regard to the course:
Knowledge and comprehension:
Acquiring knowledge of the main types of intellectual property protection.
Understanding the justifications advanced for intellectual property protection.
Understanding the international legal framework governing intellectual property protection.
Understanding of currently newsworthy topics in the area, including AI and the adaptation of copyright to the digital environment.
Application:
Students will be able to describe and explain the different types of IP protection.
Students will be able to apply their knowledge to identify and solve problems arising in the IP area.
Analysis:
Students will be able to determine whether a given asset or product is protectable by IP law and to explain their analysis from first principles.
Presentation:
Students will be able to present oral arguments in relation to protection and/or infringement of one or more types of intellectual property rights.
Mode of Instruction:
Students are expected to attend interactive lectures and seminars totalling 16 hours over eight weeks. For each lecture, students are required to read the materials provided in the reader and on Blackboard, and to participate orally in class by inter alia presenting oral arguments to the questions asked.
Week 1:
- General introduction (2h)
Weeks 2 & 3
- Patent law (4h)
Weeks 4 & 5:
- Copyright law (4h)
Week 6:
- Copyright law and design law (2h)
Weeks 7 & 8:
- Trademark law (4h)
Week 9:
- Q&A (2h)
Co-ordinator
Europa Institute Steenschuur 25 2311 ES Leiden Phone: 071-527 7760 Website: www.europainstituut.nl Sheena Bruce, s.bruce@law.leidenuniv.nl Phone: +31 (0)71 527 7821
**** Lecturer(s): ****
Dr. Ana Ramalho - Course Coordinator, Dr. José Paredes (patent attorney)
Course Materials
Required Reading
P.A.C.E. van der Kooij, D.J.G. Visser, C.J.S. Vrendenbarg and S.C. Dack, EU IP Law. A short introduction to European Intellectual Property Law, 2018 (free e-version available for students to download).
(secondary/complementary reading) Annette Kur, Thomas Dreier, Stefan Luginbuehl, European Intellectual Property Law. Text, Cases and Materials, 2nd ed. (Edward Elgar, 2019)
Course Reader can be downloaded from Bright Space
Examination
Final Examination: 100%
The student will pass the course if the overall assessment grade is 6.0 or higher. Resits will be in the form of an oral exam, which will replace both the grade of the first exam and the mock trial.
Course requirements
- Master degree
Application
- Sheena Bruce, s.bruce@law.leidenuniv.nl – Phone: +31 (0)71 527 7821
**Disclaimer:
Currently these pages are being updated to reflect the courses for 2023 - 2024. Until these pages are fixed as per 1 September 2023 no rights can be claimed from the information which is currently contained within. Should there be any future extenuating circumstances which may impinge our teaching and assessment, these could necessitate modification of the course descriptions after 1 September. This will only happen in the event of strict necessity and the interests of the students will be taken into account. Should there be a need for any change during the course, this will be informed to all students on a timely basis. Modifications after 1 September 2023 may only be done with the approval and consent of the Faculty Board and Programme Director.
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