LL4N6      Half Unit
Principles of Copyright Law

This information is for the 2025/26 session.

Course Convenor

Dr Martin Husovec

Availability

This course is available on the LLM (extended part-time), LLM (full-time), MSc in Law and Finance 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 uses controlled access as part of the course selection process.

How to apply: Priority will be given initially to LLM, MSc Regulation and MSc Law and Finance students on a first-come-first-served allocation.

Spaces permitting, requests from all other students will be processed on the same first-come-first-served allocation from 10am on Thursday 2 October 2025

By submitting an application, students are confirming that they meet any pre-requisites specified. Providing an additional written statement will not aid a student's chances of being accepted onto a course, and statements are not read.

Deadline for application: Not applicable

For queries contact: Law.llm@lse.ac.uk

 

This course has a limited number of places and demand is typically high. This may mean that you’re not able to get a place on this course.

Course content

The course explains the foundations and structure of copyright law. It is aimed at those who have not studied the subject in detail before but also those wishing to deepen their understanding of copyright law in the comparative context. Topics to be covered will include the history and evolution of copyright, protected subject matter, the scope of the economic and moral rights, and the principles underlying copyright enforcement. The course looks primarily at the European system, mostly as implemented in the UK.

Teaching

2 hours of seminars in the Spring Term.
20 hours of seminars in the Winter Term.

This course has a reading week in Week 6 of Winter Term.

Formative assessment

One 2,000 word essay.

 

Indicative reading

Reading lists will be issued on a weekly basis. The legislation, cases and soft law instruments will make up additional required reading for this course. All of this material is available in electronic form via the Moodle site which supports the course. Useful texts include Lionel Bently and Brad Sherman, Intellectual Property Law 4th ed. (OUP, Oxford 2018) and Thomas Dreier and P. Bernt Hugenholtz (eds.) Concise European Copyright Law (Kluwer, 2016).

Assessment

Exam (100%), duration: 150 Minutes in the Spring exam period


Key facts

Department: LSE Law School

Course Study Period: Winter and Spring Term

Unit value: Half unit

FHEQ Level: Level 7

CEFR Level: Null

Total students 2024/25: 35

Average class size 2024/25: 35

Controlled access 2024/25: No
Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Course selection videos

Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.

For this course, please see the following link/s:

LL4N6 Principles of Copyright Law https://youtu.be/aN6JClxAzHA

Personal development skills

  • Communication
  • Specialist skills