Intellectual Property Law & Policy

Overview

Academic Lead: Jasem Tarawneh, Guido Westkamp, Gaetano Dimita, Noam Shemtov

Syllabus: SUM5004 Intellectual Property Law and Policy [PDF]

This summer school module offers a comprehensive introduction to the main branches of intellectual property law, providing a solid foundation for advanced study. It covers the essential legal frameworks governing patents, copyrights, trademarks, and designs, examining how they incentivise creativity and innovation while balancing public interest. Students will explore the legal principles and policy rationales underlying IP protection, gaining a deep understanding of core IP doctrines and the ability to apply this knowledge across various industries and legal contexts.

Course content is subject to change.

Course aims

The primary aim of this summer school module is to equip students with advanced knowledge on the essential legal frameworks in the EU and UK governing patents, copyrights, trademarks, and designs, examining how these rights incentivise creativity and innovation while balancing public interest. The module will focus on:

1. Develop Foundational Knowledge: To provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the
key principles and legal frameworks governing the main branches of IP law in the EU and UK, including
patents, copyrights, trademarks, and designs.
2. Enhance Analytical Skills: To equip students with the ability to critically analyse complex legal issues
and disputes in IP law, considering both doctrinal aspects and broader policy implications across
different industries.
3. Promote Practical Application: To enable students to apply their knowledge of IP law to real-world scenarios, including emerging challenges such as digital technologies, globalisation, and evolving business models.
4. Prepare for Advanced Specialization: To lay a strong foundation for further in-depth study, fostering a thorough understanding of IP law that will support students’ engagement with more specialised IP topics.

Teaching and learning

You will be taught through a combination of lectures, seminars, practical workshops and field trips. 

Learning outcomes

Academic Content:

• Identify and explain the fundamental legal principles and key concepts of the main IP regimes, including patents, copyrights, trademarks, and designs.
• Evaluate IP policies and legal frameworks: Analyse the policy justifications for IP protection and assess the effectiveness of EU and UK systems in addressing contemporary legal challenges.
• Use legal reasoning and critical thinking to solve complex IP-related issues, including those arising from emerging technologies, such as digital platforms, and global markets.

Disciplinary Skills - able to:

• Assess and interpret complex IP law cases, statutes, and international agreements, identifying nuanced legal issues and offering well-reasoned solutions.
• Conduct comprehensive legal research using a range of academic, legislative, and case law sources, enabling students to support their analysis with robust, evidence-based arguments.
• Apply legal principles to formulate effective strategies for resolving intricate IP disputes across diverse industries, considering relevant legal regimes in the EU and UK.

Attributes:

• Communicate clearly and effectively complex legal and policy issues, arising from the evolving nature of IP regimes in the EU and UK. They will demonstrate the ability to discuss and engage critically with these issues, offering nuanced analysis and insights.
• Construct compelling legal arguments and present well-reasoned positions on advanced IP topics, demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of both doctrinal principles and policy implications. They will also be capable of analysing complex legal issues and devising, proposing, and debating practical solutions to the challenges posed by the need for IP law to evolve in response to changing technological advancements and societal shifts.
• Identify, review, and analyse key information from a wide range of relevant primary and secondary source material.

Fees

Additional costs

All reading material will be provided online, so it is not necessary to purchase any books.

For course and housing fees visit our finance webpage

Entry requirements

Course prerequisite:

No prior content knowledge needed.

We welcome Summer School students from around the world. We accept a range of qualifications

How to apply

Have a question? Get in touch - one of the team will be happy to help!

Applications close 26 May 2026