London Summer International IP Institute

Course Descriptions

Intellectual Property in the WTO System - 2 credits (Professor Atik)

This course will examine the role of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in establishing global minimum standards for the protection of intellectual property. The course will focus on the substantive provisions of the WTO’s Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). TRIPS mandates the adoption of effective national regimes for copyright, patents, trademarks and other forms of IP. TRIPS incorporates key provisions of the Berne Convention (copyright) and Paris Convention (patent and trademark), extending these treaty norms to the broader WTO membership. TRIPS obligations are made binding through the operation of the WTO’s dispute settlement mechanism. A review of significant WTO decisions will reveal the central role of the WTO in the recognition and enforcement of IP rights throughout the globe. The course will also examine the AIDS/HIV “essential medicines” controversy.

International Copyright and Neighboring Rights - 2 credits (Professor Dougherty)

The digital world has become a small place for authors, artists and performers. Understanding international systems for protection of rights in their works and performances is increasingly important to lawyers in the entertainment, arts and media industries.  Copyright provides a bundle of exclusive rights in expressive works of authorship, such as artistic, literary, musical and audiovisual works.  Rights of performers are  protected  under copyright in some territories, but under a different system of "neighboring rights" in others.  Domestic copyright or "authors rights"  systems in different countries reflect differing views of the nature of these rights and generally apply only within their respective jurisdictions, but are interrelated by a set of international treaties.  This course will examine the international copyright and neighboring rights systems, including important international treaties governing the signatory countries' protection of rights of authors and performers and fundamental concepts concerning the protection in one territory of works from another.  Among the specific topics covered will be the acquisition of rights by nationals of foreign states, subject matter and ownership, exclusive rights and exceptions to those rights, the duration of protection and "moral rights."  Although it is not intended to be a survey course in domestic copyright, the course will also provide an overview of basic concepts of copyright law.  Selected comparative and choice of law issues will also be considered.

International Patent and Trademark - 2 credits (Professor Manheim)

Global trade in goods and services requires an international system for the protection of industrial property (patents and trademarks). This course will focus on the two major international agreements - the Paris Convention and TRIPs - and the standards they impose for the protection of patents and trademarks in signatory countries.  It will also cover other international mechanisms, such as the Patent Cooperation Treaty and the Madrid Protocol, as well as European law (European Patent Convention and Community Trademark).  Although not designed as a full survey course in patent and trademark law, the course will provide a basic overview of relevant U.S. and European law.  Hot topics include: traditional knowledge, parallel trade (grey market goods), transgenic animals, knockoff goods and the U.S. Patent Reform Act of 2008. No previous coursework in patent or trademark law is required.