Intellectual property on the internet

LWM24

This important course investigates the relationship between intellectual property and the internet. What does intellectual property consist of on the internet? The internet has changed almost everything, and intellectual property law constitutes one of the most important aspects of its transformation. Old models are broken, no longer fitting how the world has changed and we’re not altogether sure with what to replace them. One of the key issues is whether we rewrite laws afresh or seek to modify traditional concepts to better meet the needs of our internet society. These key issues and their implications, along with the agencies that play significant roles in relation to ‘internet governance’ are explored in detail in this course.

Study as an individual course

Module A: Digital copyright

LWM24A

The scope of copyright law
Principles of copyright law
Copyright infringement
Software-specific issues
Enforcement of copyright.

Module B: Trade marks

LWM24B

Introduction to trade marks
Categories of trade marks
Trade marks and the internet
Internet market places and trade marks
The doctrine of passing off.

Module C: Domain names

LWM24C

Domain names
The emergence of ICANN
The Uniform Dispute Resolution Rules.

Module D: Computer-related patents

LWM24D

The basics of patent law and its relationship with the computer and the internet
Patents, software and the internet.

Assessment

Each module is assessed by a 45-minute unseen written exam.

Sequence

The modules can be attempted in any order.

How to apply

You can apply to study a module individually as a standalone unit or as part of a Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma or Master of Laws qualification. (In either scenario, they must be studied in order.)

These modules also contribute towards the following specialist pathways for Laws:

Commercial and Corporate Law
Common Law
Computer and Communications Law
Intellectual Property Law
International Business Law
International Intellectual Property Law
Media Law.

Apply via Postgraduate Laws

Study Material

Study material: Intellectual property on the internet

Professor Ian Lloyd

Professor Ian Lloyd is Senior Research Fellow within Southampton Law School at the University of Southampton.

Ian has worked in the field of Information technology law for around 30 years. He has published a range of books including Information Technology Law (6th edition) with Oxford University Press and has recently completed the manuscript of a book on Telecommunications Law, published by Sweet and Maxwell in 2013. I am a general editor of the International Journal of Law and IT and a reviewer for the Computer law and Security review.