Intellectual Property Law A

CML4503F   INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW A

Final Level, half course, first semester, two lectures per week.

9 NQF credits at HEQSF level 8

Convener: Associate Professor L-A Tong

Course  entry  requirements:  All  Preliminary  and  Intermediate  Level  courses  to  have  been completed.

Course outline:

This course provides an introduction to the international intellectual property rights system and a focused examination, primarily from a South African perspective, of copyright and patents. The course covers the following: intellectual property law theories and justifications; the international intellectual property law instruments; principles of copyright law; principles of patent law, current issues  in copyright  and  patent  law. (The  topics  will  be determined  at  the  start  of  the  course. Examples of issues include access to medicines, freedom of expression and parody, social media, and traditional knowledge.) Students are encouraged to register for Intellectual Property Law B as well, in order to gain a complete understanding of intellectual property law.

DP requirements: None

Assessment: Coursework: 20% optional, Exam: 80% or 100%