International IP & IT Institutions, Law and Policy (Distance Learning) (P01144)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 11 ? Acronym : LAW-P-P01144

The present course will explore two areas of the law where the effects of the globalising trend have produced significant consequences: Information Technology Law (IT) and Intellectual Property Law (IP). These consequences have generated the emergence of several institutions that have been providing policy and regulation in these areas of the law, and it has also witnessed the evolution of existing institutions and the manner in which they set policies. The issues affected by these sweeping changes range from international commercial relationships and trade, to public-interest policy questions regarding developing countries, governance and access to technology. In this context, the present course will study these institutions trying to ascertain their constitution, structure, effectiveness and relevance. The course will also study the most pressing policy choices faced by governments, institutions and stakeholders, and how those policy choices are translated into the law.
In relation to IT law, the course will focus on the institutions that regulate and police new technologies, particularly those related to the Information Society. The course will also analyse the problems of access to these technologies, and how current regulation affects the choices.
With regards to IP law, the course will be centred in the study of the international institutions that protect new technologies, folklore and traditional resources. The course will also cover the most important developments and trends in these fields from the international perspective.

Entry Requirements

? Costs : Students should have regular and reliable access to the Internet. Print consumables (paper and ink) would be recommended to provide hard copy of some on screen text and materials (e.g. articles).

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Law, (School of Law, Schedule F)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : Postgraduate

? Delivery Period : Semester 1 (Blocks 1-2)

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) per week for 10 weeks

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, students will be able to:
- Identify the most important substantive issues covered by IT and IP
Law.
- Identify the latest developments and trends in the areas of study.
- Understand the most pressing policy issues faced by institutions
involved in the areas of study.
- Develop analytical skills to make their own contributions to, and
comments about the subjects.
- Recognise and understand the constitution of the most important IP law
international institutions.
- Analyse in detail specific substantive issues facing these
international IP institutions, and the policy decisions behind them.
- Understand the concept of technology, and its application in modern
life in the shape of the Information Society.
- Have an understanding of the international framework that regulates,
manages and protects interests in relation to new technologies, in
particular the Information Society.
- Understand the different types of international regulation emerging in
the area of information technology.
- Manage specific case-studies that will illustrate the theoretical framework.

Assessment Information

One Essay, 5000 words (60%); two pieces of assessed work (20% each)

Note: Completion of the Certificate, the Diploma and progression through the LLM programme will be subject to participation in and completion of core activities within this module.