IP IN THE DIGITAL AGE

The scope of creative products in today's digital age is vast and constantly expanding; its boarders can be fussy at times and vary by country. It can embrace things as different as your favorite Netflix series, fashion designs, mechanical and processes inventions, biological matter, scents and sounds, the knowledge expressed in the 0s and 1s on your laptop, and much more. This seminar explores how intellectual property law and policy deal with the products of creative and inventive endeavors in the digital age. We will cover US federal copyright, patent, trademark, and trade secret law, and the international protection system of intellectual property rights. Relevant US state law will also be briefly covered. Special attention will be given to the impact of the digitization of goods and processes, and how the Internet market and people's online behavior have shaped IP law and policy in recent years. Through outside readings and assignments, in-class discussions, role plays, group projects and outside industry experts and IP thought leaders, students will gain a practical understanding of intellectual property and the dynamic forces shaping it. Assessments will include presentations and short papers. No in-class final exam will be given. Enrollment is limited to 25 LLM in American Law and Intellectual Property Law students. Students may not enroll if they are taking or have already taken the JD Intellectual Property survey class. ** A student who fails to attend the initial meeting of a seminar (designated by an (S) in the title), or to obtain permission to be absent from either the instructor or the Registrar, may be administratively dropped from the seminar. Students who are on a wait list for a seminar are required to attend the first seminar meeting to be considered for enrollment.