LL4AG      Half Unit
Competition Law: Challenges and Prospects

This information is for the 2014/15 session.

Teacher responsible

Dr Pablo Ibanez Colomo NAB5.16

Availability

This course is available on the MSc in Regulation, Master of Laws and Master of Laws (extended part-time study). This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.

This course will be relevant to the following LLM specialisms: Competition, Innovation and Trade; Corporate and/or Commercial Law; European Law; International Business Law.

This course is capped at 60 students. Students must apply through Graduate Course Choice on LSEforYou.

Pre-requisites

Prior knowledge of Competition Law is desirable, but not essential.

Course content

This module addresses some of the most topical and intellectually challenging aspects of contemporary Competition Law. The emphasis will be put on EU Competition Law, but developments from other jurisdictions, and in particular from the US, are discussed where relevant. This module examines the intersection of competition law with intellectual property (standard-setting agreements, patent pools, issues arising in relation to the enforcement of patents in the pharmaceutical sector). It also covers some of the major substantive developments in the field, and in particular the application of the law in high-technology markets and in recently liberalised industries.

Topics include the following:

• Competition Law and Intellectual Property

     o Competition Law in the Pharmaceutical Sector

     o Standard-setting agreements and patent pool organisations

     o Technology licensing

• Competition Law in High-Technology Markets

     o Interoperability issues

     o Online distribution

     o Competition Law and Innovation

• Competition Law and Sector-Specific Regulation (Telecommunications and Energy)

 

Teaching

20 hours of seminars in the LT. 4 hours of seminars in the ST.

Formative coursework

All students are expected to produce one 2,000 word formative essay during the course.

Indicative reading

Whish, Competition Law (7th edn, 2012); Jones & Sufrin, EC Competition Law: Cases and Materials (5th ed, 2014); Geradin & Elhauge, Global Competition Law and Economics (2nd edn, 2011); Hovenkamp, The Antitrust Enterprise (2005).

Assessment

Exam (100%, duration: 2 hours) in the main exam period.

Key facts

Department: Law

Total students 2013/14: 44

Average class size 2013/14: 22

Controlled access 2013/14: No

Lecture capture used 2013/14: No

Value: Half Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Personal development skills

  • Communication
  • Specialist skills