University of Cambridge, Faculty of Law

Intellectual Property (Tripos)

Syllabus
  1. Introduction: nature and objectives of intellectual property, and its justifications. EU harmonisation and international relations (in outline).
  2. Copyright: types of subject matter, authorship and ownership, originality, scope of economic rights and exceptions (focusing on fair dealing, public interest, and incidental inclusion), moral rights (excluding droit de suite and performers’ rights), remedies. Copyright and digital technology (including Internet, peer-to-peer, Digital Economy Act 2010 but covering computer programs and databases in outline only).
  3. Confidential information (including trade secrets and private information, the impact of Article 8 ECHR): legal basis; requirements for protection; public interest and Article 10; remedies.
  4. Rights in trade marks and names: Protection at common law: passing off (including personality and character merchandising, extended passing off). Registrability, loss of rights, scope of protection. Remedies.
  5. Patents: Scope and objectives. Validity, infringement, ownership and dealing. Impact of biotechnology.