JJUA55128U EU Intellectual Property Law

Focusing on the EU IPL in its wider international context, this course aims to analyze the framework within which national IP laws of member states operate and interact. The course also seeks to discuss the most important policy issues and arguments of relevance to the EU, both within the Union, and with regard to its international relations on the global level.

The course involves lectures on the following topics:
1. Introduction to IPL: IP theory, IP sources of law and their interaction (1 lecture);
2. Copyright and related rights (2 lectures);
3. Patents (2 lectures);
4. Plant variety rights, geographical indications and designs (1 lecture);
5. Trademarks (2 lectures);
6. IPR and free movement of goods (1 lecture);
7. The interface between IPL and competition law (1 lecture);
8. Enforcement issues (1 lecture).

Each lecture contains overview and analysis of the relevant International and EU legislative framework with the following focus on fundamental theoretical concepts and notions as well as examples of practical application of the legal norms and concepts above.

There is no strict necessity in completion of any course before the EU IPL course. Although, taking into account that the EU IPL course requires knowledge and understanding of the basics of International public\private law and EU law, the completion of the courses above is recommended.

The course provides a strong starting point for further studies within more specialized courses in the area of IPRs such as, for example: biotechnology, pharmaceutical patents, trans-border enforcement of IPRs etc.