LW7039 - Intellectual Property

You will be taught in formal sessions (lectures and workshops) and we will also facilitate independent study/learning opportunities to enable you to gain a thorough understanding of the law relating to intellectual property. You will have access to webcasts which are specific to the module. The lectures will cover a range of key theoretical and practical concepts in each topic. The practical workshops will involve discussions in small group sessions and will enable you to examine the principles introduced in the lectures. The sessions will be facilitated by the module tutor and will use relevant, realistic and practical scenarios relating to the law of intellectual property to help provide context for your additional, independent learning. You will be provided with detailed feedback on your formative and summative assignment for this module and, as part of your reflective development, such feedback can be utilised in the preparation of both the oral and written components of the module assessments on the programme.

This module is designed by and will be managed by the designated Module Tutor. S/he will be responsible for guiding you in your engagement and learning on the module. All relevant materials and instructions will be accessible on-line through the eLearning portal, Blackboard Ultra, and this will be maintained by your Module Tutor. Extensive use will therefore made of Blackboard Ultra on this module, to facilitate discussions between you and your Module Tutor, to provide materials, make announcements and to highlight recent developments in the law. Academic support is also available through formative feedback during timetabled sessions, on assignments. The workshops will be used to provide you with opportunities to develop your presentation skills via feedback from your tutors and other students. At programme level you will be supported by the Programme Leader who will provide pastoral support throughout the module and the programme as a whole.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

Knowledge & Understanding:
1. You will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the impact of innovative and contemporary research on national and European Law governing intellectual property rights.
2. You will understand the wider impact of legal developments in Intellectual Property law on social and environmental contexts.
Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:

3. You will be able to analyse and communicate complex legal and policy issues effectively.
4. You will be able to conduct self-directed research including accurate identification of issue(s) in respect of Intellectual Property law which require researching and the retrieval and critical evaluation of accurate, current and relevant information from a range of appropriate sources including primary legal sources

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):

5. You will be able to reflect upon your own and others’ functioning in order to improve practice in relation to Intellectual Property Law.

Formative assessment will be achieved by self-test questions in module materials, group discussion, informal peer assessment and assessed and non- assessed exercises. Your module tutor will give oral and written feedback to you as required focusing in on preparing you for the oral presentation and the written commentary.
Summative Assessment will be undertaken on an individual basis by way of assignment which constitutes 100% of the marks for this module. This assignment aims to encourage a deep and critical approach to learning, developing an ability to think widely about the issues presented within the module and to explore these in-line with directed and independent learning.

The module is assessed by coursework with a maximum word limit of 3,000 words. The assessment will take the form of a discursive essay question which will be designed to facilitate examination of specific aspects of relevant law and related legal research and may include discussion of recent developments, where appropriate.
Assessment criteria will be provided to enable you to understand what is expected of you and how you will be judged on your performance.

You will be provided with appropriate written or oral feedback (as appropriate), and, as part of your reflective development, such feedback can be utilised in the preparation of subsequent module assessments on the programmeAssessment criteria will be provided to enable you to understand what is expected of you and how you will be judged on your performance.

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This module examines national and European Law governing intellectual property rights. You will develop knowledge and a critical understanding of intellectual property rights in an international, EU and domestic context, considering both common law and statutory rules. This will include the nature of IP rights, copyright and related rights, trademarks, designs, patents and confidentiality. This knowledge is in high demand amongst employers and studying this area will give you a significant advantage when seeking employment in a wide range of areas. As well as the knowledge, your employability will be enhanced by the cultivation of a wide range of skills unique to the postgraduate study of law. You will critically engage with research outputs as part of your research-rich learning, drawing from Northumbria’s extensive on-line databases and library facilities and will develop the ability to conduct rigorous and independent legal research in the context of intellectual property law. You will be able to reflect on and critically evaluate intellectual property law and to identify solutions to relevant problems. You will also be able to reflect on how intellectual property law aligns with your own personal and professional values.