LL4BQ      Half Unit
Trade Mark Law

This information is for the 2020/21 session.

Teacher responsible

Luke McDonagh

Availability

This course is available on the LLM (extended part-time), LLM (full-time), MSc in Law, Anthropology and Society and University of Pennsylvania Law School LLM Visiting Students. 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: Intellectual Property Law; Information Technology, Media and Communications Law

Pre-requisites

None 

Course content

This course offers in depth analysis of legislation and case law concerning trade marks in the UK and EU. In so doing the module considers relevant developments in international and comparative law. Topics covered include: national, regional and international trade mark registration systems; absolute grounds and relative grounds of refusal; the scope of trade mark rights; trade mark infringement; exceptions and defences; and the ownership of brand image in the context of the interaction between consumers and corporate brands.

Teaching

This course is delivered through a combination of classes and lectures totalling a minimum of 20 hours in Michaelmas Term.  This year teaching will be delivered through recorded online lectures and a mix of both in-person and online classes to accommodate students who are unable to physically be on campus. This course includes a reading week in Week 6 of Michaelmas Term.

Formative coursework

One 2,000 word essay.

Indicative reading

Core Textbook - S Karapapa and L McDonagh, Intellectual Property Law 1st edition (OUP, Oxford 2019).   Students will be expected to read widely in designated journals and books. All of the recommended cases and journal articles are available in electronic form and additional materials will be made available on the Moodle website which supports this course. A detailed reading list will be provided for the course, but the following are indicative: Available in the Library: L Bently, J Davis, J Ginsburg (eds) Trade Marks & Brands: An Interdisciplinary Critique (CUP, Cambridge 2008); A Arvidsson, Brands. Meaning and Value in Media Culture (Routledge, London 2006);  C Lury, Brands. The Logos of the Global Economy (Routledge, London 2004); G Dinwoodie & M Janis (eds) Trade Mark Law and Theory: A Handbook of Contemporary Research (Edward Elgar, Cheltenham 2008); S Maniatis & D Botis, Trade Marks in Europe: A Practical Jurisprudence 2nd ed (Sweet & Maxwell, London 2010).

Assessment

Exam (100%, duration: 2 hours, reading time: 15 minutes) in the summer exam period.

Important information in response to COVID-19

Please note that during 2020/21 academic year some variation to teaching and learning activities may be required to respond to changes in public health advice and/or to account for the situation of students in attendance on campus and those studying online during the early part of the academic year. For assessment, this may involve changes to mode of delivery and/or the format or weighting of assessments. Changes will only be made if required and students will be notified about any changes to teaching or assessment plans at the earliest opportunity.

Key facts

Department: Law

Total students 2019/20: Unavailable

Average class size 2019/20: Unavailable

Controlled access 2019/20: No

Value: Half Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Personal development skills

  • Communication
  • Specialist skills