
Explore intellectual property law and its five main areas: patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret, and rights of publicity, distinguishing tangible from intangible property.
Explain the broad liability for copyright infringement, including direct, vicarious, and contributory liability, even for unknowingly infringing parties, and how DMCA safe harbor and notice‑and‑takedown limit liability for neutral websites.
Trademark rights arise from using a mark in commerce, not from registering it. Evaluate strength along the spectrum—generic, descriptive, suggestive, and arbitrary or fanciful—to assess brand protection and infringement risk.
Compare provisional and utility patents, outlining filing requirements, conversion timing, and expiration. Explain how the America Invents Act shifts priority to first to file, encouraging timely patent filings.
A patent grants the right to sue for infringement, injunctions, and damages. Infringement relies on patent claims and may involve direct or indirect liability, with defenses including exhaustion and non-infringement.
Understand trade secrets, misappropriation, and the proof required: secrecy, value, and protective measures; learn remedies like injunctions or damages and defenses such as lack of duty or reverse engineering.
Rights of publicity law protects an individual's face, voice, and persona from unauthorized monetization; states vary, with waivers, model releases, and painting exceptions for limited prints.
In this course you will learn the fundamental framework of Intellectual Property.
This course provides an introduction to intellectual property (IP) law and its principles. Students will explore the different forms of IP protection, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets, and will examine the legal framework for each.
The course will cover the basics of patent law, including patentable subject matter, the patent application process, and infringement issues. Students will also learn about trademark law, including the function of trademarks, registration requirements, and infringement. The course will also address the basics of copyright law, including copyrightable subject matter, ownership, and infringement.
Additionally, students will learn about trade secrets and the legal protection afforded to them. Throughout the course, students will be expected to engage in critical analysis and to develop skills in legal reasoning and analysis.
Overall, this course will provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the legal framework for IP protection, including the advantages and limitations of different forms of protection, and the key issues and challenges faced by IP owners and practitioners.
Please note: this course covers legal concepts pertaining solely to the United States. The information presented in this course may not be applicable to other countries and should be used accordingly.