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LL.M. Intellectual Property
Bournemouth University
| Tuition fee: |
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| Start date: | January 2014, September 2013 |
| Duration full-time: | 12 months |
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| Delivery mode: | On Campus |
| Educational variant: | Full-time |
Description
This course has been developed in collaboration with the Joint Education Board of The Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA) and The Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys (ITMA).
The LLM in Intellectual Property can be achieved through a year-long programme that has been developed for both UK and international students. This course is linked to the LLM International Commercial Law with which it shares several units.
The course is taught by academics of the renowned Centre for Intellectual Property Policy & Management (Informa World Leaders Award in Education 2005), and enjoys a significant input from Intellectual Property practitioners from some of the UKs leading companies and practices.
Coursedelivery
As an LLM Intellectual Property student you will experience a unique blend of delivery and self-managed study over this one-year course. If you start in autumn, you and your fellow students will attend the university for approximately three to four days of contact study per week, studying three common units with colleagues on the LLM International Commercial Law .
During the spring term, you will be joined by professionals who are completing a PG Certificate in Intellectual Property over three block weekends (Thursdays to Saturdays). Many will have a background in industry and thus enhance your learning experience through their passion for IP practice. There will be an extensive programme of electronic learning, guest lectures, as well as an expectation that you attend relevant academic activities common with the course in International Commercial Law (such as preparatory research method seminars supporting your dissertation). There is an option to switch one of the blocked units to traditional delivery. This is recommended for international students not seeking full exemptions from the foundation level exams of the professional bodies CIPA/ITMA.
Although greater emphasis will be placed on self-managed, independent study during the spring term, you will have access to support and guidance from the academic team throughout the course. It is possible to start the course with the PG Certificate in the spring term, and then upgrade to an LLM during the following academic year.
Contents
The course consists of 3 stages, details of which are below. This includes an overview of the units you will study
Stage1(Autumn)
Corporate Law: Theory and Practice
This unit examines the theory and practice of corporate law. This includes discussion of the historical emergence of the corporation; the formation and constitutional aspects of companies in the UK; corporate governance (decision making, directors duties and shareholder remedies); corporate finance; and insolvency.
Assessment: 100% examination
International Economic Law
The Law of the World Trade Organisation has become the underpinning of the global free trade system. Issues covered include the foundational concepts of non-discrimination and tariff reduction, as well as the WTOs powerful dispute settlement mechanism. The unit also deals with questions arising from the rapid globalisation of financial markets, financial services and the banking system.
Assessment: 100% coursework
Dispute Resolution
Cross-border trading activity raises complex issues involving the law of more than one country. Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) offers an alternative way of resolving disputes other than litigation. This unit will introduce the key concepts, forms and procedures of ADR and discuss its development and merits compared to litigation.
Assessment: 100% coursework
Stage2(Spring)
Compulsory units:
Patents and Designs
This unit is CIPA/ITMA accredited
It will provide you with a systematic understanding of the legal regimes governing patents and designs derived from the study of UK legislation, European directives, international legislative frameworks together with judicial decisions from UK and European courts. Strategic use of patents, patent mapping and patent ownership are integrated in this unit, as does an understanding of how the law of contract underpins commercial dealing in intellectual property rights.
Assessment: 100% coursework
Copyrights and Trade Marks
This unit is CIPA/ITMA accredited
In this unit, you will examine the legal regimes governing copyright and trade marks derived from the study of UK legislation, European directives, international legislative frameworks together with judicial decisions from UK and European courts. The unit also requires you to investigate the conceptual and commercial overlap of copyright and trade mark law with design and patent. Understanding the torts of negligence and malicious falsehood are linked into this unit.
Assessment: 100% coursework
You will choose one of the following optional units:
International Intellectual Property Practice (Patent Attorney Route) and International Intellectual Property Practice (Trade Mark Attorney Route)
These two units share a common syllabus, focussing on national and international procedure in respect of securing and defending patent and trade mark rights. The patent route will have an additional taught component on patent drafting. The trade mark route includes an additional focus on competition related provisions. Both units are taught by leading practitioners.
Assessment: 50% coursework, 50% examination
International Intellectual Property Rights
Intellectual property rights (IPR) are implicated in most aspects of international commerce. For example: patent laws affect technology transfer, trade mark laws affect branding, design laws affect product development and copyright laws affect all entertainment goods. Through the integration of intellectual property standards into the WTO framework with the 1994 TRIPS Agreement, intellectual property laws have been substantially and controversially harmonised. This policy-oriented unit evaluates the consequences of the globalisation of intellectual property laws.
Assessment: 100% coursework
Please note, students who are currently working in a professional environment may request to replace one unit with the following unit which may be completed off campus:
Contemporary Issues II: Work Based Learning
The Work Based Learning allows you to focus on your professional needs within the context of their organisation. There is growing demand for research which is related to the actual work activities and situations of employees and professionals, which has been stimulated by major changes in organisational structures and employment patterns, technological and scientific advances, and intensifying economic competition. You will be expected to demonstrate research capability applicable to the professional areas of study and produce and orally present a satisfactory report. This unit can be completed off campus with e-mail supervision through an assigned tutor.
Stage3
Research Project
For this stage of the course you will prepare, complete and submit a supervised dissertation. The dissertation provides you with an opportunity to undertake a significant piece of self-managed research in a relevant area of particular interest (as approved by the dissertation supervisor) using empirical research or doctrinal study. The dissertation can be completed off-campus with supervision available via email.
Assessment: you will be required to submit a 15,000 word research project carrying 100% of the marks available.
Requirements
The normal requirements for embarking upon a postgraduate taught degree are:
* A good Bachelors Honours degree, 2:2 or above or equivalent
* For post-experience and professional qualifications, there may be additional entry requirements set by the association or institute that ultimately administers the qualification in question. The qualification description on the course information pages should tell you what these are but please get in touch with the askBU Enquiry Service if you are in doubt
If you lack the formal academic qualifications needed to enter a postgraduate or post-experience degree, there are several alternative routes to follow - some based on experience. Contact the askBU Enquiry Service for more information.
Preferred subjects
You should have familiarity with the law or thorough subject knowledge in a related discipline such as accounting, management or business. A background in the sciences is appropriate if you intend to progress into a career relating to patents.
English Language Requirements
| IELTS band: | 6 |
| CAE score: | 60(Grade A) |
Funding
For more information about fees and funding please visit our website
IELTS
You are normally required to take an English Proficiency Test.
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