International Intellectual Property

The law of intellectual property (patent, trademark, and copyright) has increasingly assumed an international dimension. In today s world of intellectual property law, one must understand how the rights of inventors, brand name owners, and creative artists, and software developers are protected in international and comparative law. Mirroring this reality, this course has two basic objectives. One is to equip students with the methodology necessary to engage in international intellectual property practice in both public and private international law. It will consider topics such as territoriality, national treatment, choice of law, multilateral treaties, and regional agreements that the frame the substantive rules and practice of intellectual property law in a transnational setting. As a second objective, this course will consider intellectual property from a comparative law dimension. In this regard, it will focus on the basic differences in the approach to patent, trademark, and copyright law in national and regional systems. Within this theme, this course will examine the cultural and economic differences that have led to divisions between developed and developing countries on the protection of intellectual property.