Introduction to Intellectual Property

Introduction to Intellectual Property (IP) is a survey of the legal protection of proprietary rights in scientific and technological inventions, artistic and literary creations, trademarks, trade secrets, and other intangible intellectual products. The theoretical bases for intellectual property rights are analyzed, while the specific legal regimes of patent, copyright, trademark, and trade secret law are taught individually. The course considers the ongoing challenges to traditional legal paradigms for intellectual property that are posed by new modes of technological and creative production, including artificial intelligence. The course offers an overview of the critical field of IP law for those planning careers in other fields. For those planning an IP career, the course offers a comparative treatment of the various branches of IP law. This course is not a prerequisite for or a substitute for the full-semester courses in Copyrights, Patent Law, or Trademarks.