Undergraduate Module Descriptor

LAW3028: Intellectual Property

This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.

Module Aims

This module aims to examine the legal rules and principles involved in UK Copyright, Trademark and Patent Law. In addition to analysing the substantive copyright, patent and trade mark laws, the module will consider the underlying rationale of the law. By drawing on a number of legal and non-legal materials the module will explore the complex social, economic and political context in which the law operates.

The module aims to encourage you to critically analyse the operation of the law. Registration and similar procedures can encourage a descriptive approach, so this module will ensure that you will be able to place the systems within context. For instance, the development of the law is considered in depth so as to make you aware of the landscape of protection, so that the system can be analysed appropriately.

The module therefore aims to encourage you to think critically and analyse the broader policy framework underlying IP laws, to consider whether the system meets its purported aims, to become involved in debate concerning the possible proposals for reform, and consider the means by which the current rules may be applied to new technologies.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here – you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills	1. critically evaluate and analyse the rules and underlying rationale of aspects of IP law; 2. understand some of the challenges facing aspects of IP law.
Discipline-Specific Skills	3. integrate and assess information from primary and secondary legal sources using appropriate interpretative techniques; 4. define complex legal problems, identify their relative significance, and select appropriate methods for investigating and critically evaluating them.
Personal and Key Skills	5. select, prioritise, analyse and organise your research to a strict deadline, in order to construct original argument; 6. plan and undertake tasks, with minimum guidance, and reflect critically on the learning process and complete specified tasks.

Module Content

Syllabus Plan

Whilst the precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover all or some of the following topics:

Introduction to the principles and theory of IP Law
Copyright
Patents
Trade Marks
Passing Off

Learning and Teaching

This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
48	252	0

...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled learning and teaching activities	28	28 x 1 hour lectures
Scheduled learning and teaching activities	8	4 x 2 hour seminars
Scheduled Learning and Teaching activities	12	8 x 1.5 hour workshops
Guided independent study	120	Individual reading and lecture preparation
Guided independent study	40	Workshop and seminar preparation
Guided independent study	92	Formative and summative assessment preparation

Online Resources

This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).