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2020/21 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

LAW5698M Copyright Law

15 creditsClass Size: 60

Module manager: Professor Graham Dutfield
Email: G.M.Dutfield.leeds.ac.uk

Taught: 1 Apr to 31 Aug View Timetable

Year running 2020/21

Module replaces

LAW5685M Patents and Copyright

This module is not approved as an Elective

Module summary

The module covers the key principles of copyright, the major cases that helped to shape the modern law of this intellectual property right, and the convergence of copyright laws towards harmonised European and international standards of protection. It also considers the economic and philosophical rationales and shows why copyright is so controversial in today's globalised economy.

Objectives

This module aims to provide students with a thorough grounding in British, European, United States and international copyright law. Accordingly, and in order to solidify students' understanding of copyright and its role in the modern globalised economy, it considers the evolving economic and philosophical rationales for this right and investigates how far these rationales genuinely reflect present-day realities.

Learning outcomes
On completion of this module students will:
- be familiar with the literature on copyright law;
- be able to assess the reasons informing and the implications of the growing internationalisation of copyright;
- be able to appreciate the theoretical and policy context (particularly with regard to notions of globalisation) underpinning many of the debates concerning the internationalisation of copyright law and also the contemporary policy relevance of such inquiries;
- be capable of assessing the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches to the study of copyright law and the analysis of comparative policy convergence;
- have developed the ability to research, analyse and communicate in an informed and critical way theoretical accounts and empirical studies within the field of copyright;
- be able to relate the issues in the literature to their understanding of copyright law policy developments within their own and a variety of other countries.

Skills outcomes
The student will:

- develop an understanding of how to study copyright from an international and comparative perspective;
- be cognisant of the critical issues relating to copyright;
- be able to organise their research endeavours productively;
- be able to write cogently about copyright.


Syllabus

The course will cover the following subjects:

Principles of Copyright Law: Subject matter, Criteria
Authorship and Ownership
Nature of Rights and Infringement
Defences, Limitations and Exceptions
Europe and the United States: Comparative Perspectives

Teaching methods

Delivery typeNumberLength hoursStudent hours
Seminar82.0016.00
Private study hours134.00
Total Contact hours16.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)150.00

Private study

50 hours - reading and reflection following each lecture.
84 hours - preparation for writing essay.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

1) Attendance will be monitored to provide early warning of possible extra-curricular problems that may be inhibiting progress.
2) The lecturer will strive to ensure active and equitable participation by all who follow the course.
3) The assessed essays will provide an objective measure of student progress and performance.

Methods of assessment


Coursework
Assessment typeNotes% of formal assessment
Essay1 x 3,000 words100.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 12/01/2021 12:49:47

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