HUSL IP Courses

Below are descriptions of the HUSL IP course offerings. Not all courses are offered every year and from time to time the course coverage will change.

Recommended course sequences are on a different page.

Advanced Topics in Patent Law: Public Policy, Service, and Social Justice Issues in the 21st Century (600-901); Adjunct Profs. Thomas L. Irving, Christine E. Lehman, and Esther H. Lim (Finnegan Henderson) 3 credits (Seminar)

This seminar explores advanced topics in patent law, with emphasis given to social justice and public service issues, particularly the public policy implications of the patent law and the policy objectives underlying the mechanisms prerequisite to obtaining and enforcing a patent. The course is designed to provide the student with the opportunity to obtain an intense appreciation of how patent law can benefit his or her community in the distribution of wealth and capital. The course will also examine factors which may impede those who are underrepresented and disadvantaged. The struggle among competing legal, social, and economic interests to balance the patent rights of the inventor with the public interest in developing affordable products from the inventions is considered throughout in a variety of settings. The basic patent law course is not a prerequisite for this seminar, because this course will provide sufficient background instruction on the principles of patent law to lay a foundation for a discussion of advanced topics.

 

Copyrights (600-684); Prof. Steven Jamar 3 credits (syllabus)

This course surveys the basic copyright law under the Copyright Act of 1976, as amended to include computer software and to conform to the requirements of the Berne Convention. Key concepts such as copyrightable subject matter, the scope of exclusive rights, fair use, ownership issues, infringement, federal preemption of state actions, and international copyright are studied. Rights in music, art, film, literature, and software are considered in varying depths.

 

Cyberlaw: Issues in Software, the Internet, and the Digital Divide (600-636); Prof. Lateef Mtima 3 credits (LWIII, Seminar)

This seminar examines the law governing the legal rights and relationships arising in connection with the development, use, and dissemination of computer software, digital content, and similar kinds of intellectual property, in private, consumer and commercial transactions. Relevant state and federal statutes and common law mechanisms available under trade secret, copyright, patent, and trademark law are examined particularly with respect to how they are adapted to new technologies. The course emphasizes the economic and social policy objectives of intellectual property protection, including but not limited to the stimulation of creative enterprise and the beneficial dissemination of new achievements, and also considers some attendant policy questions, such as the “Digital Divide.”

 

Entertainment Law (600-645); Prof. Spencer Boyer 3 credits

This course explores the protection of intellectual property, contractual problems, statutory protection, and tax implications, examining business relationships in the entertainment field.

 

Entertainment Law Seminar (600-720); Prof. Spencer Boyer 3 credits (LW III)

This seminar will focus on substantive problems and issues in contemporary entertainment law and will explore in depth the protection of intellectual property, contractual problems, statutory protection, tax implications, and business relationships in the entertainment field among other areas. A substantial research and writing project on an entertainment law subject, as approved by the professor, is required.

 

Introduction to Intellectual Property; Prof. Lateef Mtima 3 credits 

This course surveys basic IP law including copyrights, patents, trademarks, and trade secrets. It is designed for the general commecial lawyer as well as being the basic introductory course for more advanced study of particular aspects of intellectual property. In addition to examining traditional IP doctrine, students are encouraged to consider the theoretical and practical effects of intellectual property regimes on social utility and engineering objectives.

 

Patents;3 credits (Adjunct Professors Thomas Iriving and Laura Masurofsky)

This course surveys basic patent and trade secret law. The course covers a variety of topics including patentable subject matter, conditions of patentability, enforcement of patents, and the basic law of misappropriation of trade secrets.

 

Trademark Law 3 credits (Adjunt Professors Phil Hampton and Luna Samman)

This course examines federal and state trademark law within the context of an overview of the law of unfair competition. The course will consider trade dress, unregistered indicia of source, federal trademark registration, trademark infringement, dilution, and the right of publicity. Practical aspects of counseling clients in trademark selection, protection, and enforcement will be emphasized. Familiarity with the basic concepts of intellectual property is preferred and those who have taken Introduction to Intellectual Property Law will have an advantage, though the introductory course is not a prerequisite.

Patent Enforcement 3 credits (Adjunt Professors George F. Pappas & Paul J. Berman)

This course examines enforcement of patents and includes drafting various documents in relation thereto.