LWMTTT-Intellectual Property Law: Patents and Trade Marks

Module Provider: School of Law
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2022/3

Module Convenor: Mr Howard Johnson
Email: h.johnson2@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:
This module provides advanced knowledge of the legal protection that is afforded to inventions, trade names and brands. Students will be encouraged to critically assess statutory provisions and common law principles that govern patents and trade mark law, as well as the rationales justifying particular doctrines and the effects of the practical operation of these doctrines.

Aims:
This module aims to provide students with advanced knowledge of patent and trade mark law. The module also aims to enable students to appreciate and critically assess both the practical day to day operation of these areas of intellectual property law and the rationales for intellectual property protection.

Assessable learning outcomes:

On completion of the module, students will be expected to be able to:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of the legal protection available for inventions and trade names, and the ability to critically assess topical issues in these legal areas;


2. Identify the main rationales for the legal protection of patents and trade marks;


3. Demonstrate the ability to ascertain the substantial law from legislation, case law and secondary literature, as appli ed to patents and trade marks.

Additional outcomes:

In addition to those listed in the School’s ‘core skills statement’, the module will encourage the development of:

• High-level oral communication skills through reflective, analytical class discussion.


• Advanced critical reading skills in relation to primary and/or secondary sources

Outline content:

The topics that will be discussed include:Ìý

1. Patents and trade marks: legislative framework, international obligations and EU harmonization;


2. Obtaining a patent and the requirements for patentabilty: national applications, Patent Cooperation Treaty and European Patent Convention;


3. Patent infringement and defences;


4. Registering a European Union trade mark, national applications;


5. Absolute and relat ive grounds for refusal of trade mark registrability, infringement, defences;


6. The law of passing off.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

Teaching in this module is designed to provide students with a range of resources on which they can draw in their learning. The main elements are:

• A list of required and recommended readings, with notes and questions that will be used to guide class discussion and reflection.


• 6 seminars in the Spring term. Seminars are discussion based classes.


• Assessed work that will be used to develop students' skills and knowledge.