Please take note of the evaluation methods for each course, noted at the end of the course description.
6844 Patents, Technology, and Society
Professor Dan Burk
Social policy issues such as encouragement of innovation and dissemination of information in relation to patent protection. Topics include differing attitudes in the United States and in the European Union and developing countries to the expansion of patent coverage. Although previous technical or patent law training is not required, some previous study of intellectual property or innovation is recommended. (Writing assignment)
6854 Artistic Freedom and Control in Copyright
Professor Kristelia Garcia
Consideration of the tension in copyright law between an artist's right to control access to, use, and presentation of, his work, and other artists' freedom to remix, sample, parody and otherwise transform existing content. Comparative examination of the policy approaches taken by jurisdictions that emphasize "fair use," such as the United States, and jurisdictions that emphasize "moral rights," such as France and Germany, using examples drawn from music, film, and publishing. (Examination)
6840 Cross-Border Trade in Intellectual Property
Professor Bob Brauneis
International trade in goods protected by copyright, patent or trademark law has become a matter of enormous economic significance. This course will address a number of the specialized issues raised by such transactions. Consideration will be given to various doctrines that regulate or prevent unauthorized importation of goods protected by intellectual property rights, such as those forbidding parallel importation or regulating trade in so-called "grey goods" and those dealing with the first sale doctrine and exhaustion of intellectual property rights. We will focus as well on the economic and social policy considerations underlying those doctrines. The course will address issues that arise under all three major categories of intellectual property and review the response of the U.S., the E.U., and other legal systems to those issues. (Examination)
6493 Internet Law I
Professor Robert Heverly
While the debate still continues in the academy over whether a "law of cyberspace" is truly needed, businesses and organizations are confronted every day with issues that arise out of the Internet and the activities it enables. This course will take a practical approach to the Internet, identifying and discussing these issues in the larger context of the law's role in commerce. The course will include a discussion of control over the Internet, and will focus on questions of personal jurisdiction; civil liability (including rules for third-party speech); copyright and control; free speech (including obscenity and indecency); questions of domain names and linking; and online contracting and agreements. (Examination)
Please note: GW degree candidates may not receive credit for both Law 6493 and 6485. Students who previously took Internet Law 6842 may not receive credit for either Law 6493 and 6485.
6852 European Intellectual Property Law
Professor Christoph Ann
Introduction to the law of technology protection (patent and trade secret law) in Europe, including basic institutions, obtaining protection, exploitation and licensing, and enforcement. Will also include an overview of European trademark institutions. (Examination)
6846 Philosophical Foundations of Intellectual Property
Professor Michael Madison
Selected themes in the history and theory of intellectual property, including economic rationales for intellectual property rights, the debate over the limits to intellectual property protection from the 18th through the 20th centuries, and historical accounts of the intellectual property system. (Writing assignment)
6853 Chinese Intellectual Property Law
Professor Catherine Sun
Introduction to intellectual property law in China, focusing on technology, commercialization and IP enforcement, and the practical aspects of China IP strategy from the perspective of foreign businesses entering the Chinese market. Major themes will include recent IP legislative developments in China, recent landmark cases, and major pitfalls and risks in acquiring and transacting in IP in China. (Examination)
6849 Trademarks and Geographical Indications
Professor Mark McKenna
Regulation of terms that indicate or once indicated the geographic origin of goods or services (e.g., champagne, California Pizza Kitchen). Comparative study of U.S. and European Community approaches; the impact of international treaties, including the U.S.–EC dispute before the World Trade Organization; implications for affected industries; and broader cultural implications. (Examination)