The course will address the following topics: Introduction: nature and objectives of intellectual property; history and theory of protection; international relations. Copyright: subject matter; criteria for protection; economic rights; duration; authorship, ownership and exploitation; moral rights; infringement, defences, and remedies; copyright and digital technology; related rights. Patents: grant and content; validity; scope of protection; infringement, defences, and remedies; impact of biotechnology. Trade marks: registration; absolute and relative grounds for refusal; revocation and invalidity; exhaustion of rights; infringement, defences, and remedies; the common law action of passing off.
The course may also include the following topics: Designs: registered designs; unregistered designs; design drawings for artistic works; European registered designs; European unregistered designs. Confidential Information: elements for breach; confidential information and trade secrets; employees and the obligation of confidence; infringement, defences, and remedies; personal confidential information and publicity rights.