Intellectual Property Law PGCert

About the Course

This course provides a comprehensive overview of theoretical and practical aspects of intellectual property law. The course is suitable for both law graduates and those with background in sciences, technology and the humanities.

Upon successful completion of the Intellectual Property PG Certificate, students who wish to qualify as Patent Attorney in the UK receive exemptions from the foundation level papers set by the qualifying examinations agencies (see more details in the 'Special Features page).

Aims

The programme will provide students with essential knowledge about the theoretical rationales and policy arguments for the recognition of intellectual property rights.

It will explain the basic principles of Intellectual Property Law and the nature and scope of these rights, the procedures, both national and supranational, for the granting and recognition of the rights, and mechanisms for enforcement as well as defences against enforcement.

Enquiries

Administrative enquiries
Jenny King, Senior Postgraduate Programmes Administrator
Email j.king@brunel.ac.uk
Tel +44 (0)1895 267316

Course content enquires
Dr Maurizio Borghi, Course Director
Email maurizio.borghi@brunel.ac.uk
Tel +44 (0)1895 267491

Related Courses

Special Features

Studying Intellectual Property Law at Brunel
Intellectual Property Law at Brunel University is well established and highly rated for the quality of its staff publications, research projects and teaching standard. Staff teaching at the Intellectual Property PG Certificate include academics and practitioners with recognised expertise in all areas of intellectual property law. For more information about Intellectual Property Law at Brunel please visit the web pages of the Centre for Intellectual Property, Internet & Media (IPIM).

Delivery
The course runs on a part-time basis from end-September to March and it is delivered on Wednesdays from 1pm to 5pm.

Exemptions
The Course is accredited by the Intellectual Property Regulation Board (IPReg), the statutory body regulating the professions of patent attorney and trade mark attorney, and provides exemptions in the examinations to become a qualified Patent Attorney in the UK. For more details on qualifications, examinations, and exemptions please visit the website of the Joint Examination Board (JEB), the body responsible for the organisation and management of the examinations of CIPA for entry onto the Register of Patent Attorneys.

Patent Attorney
Students will receive full exemption from all Foundation Level Papers (P1, P5, P7, T1, T2, T5, D&C, Law). For more information, visit the CIPA/JEB webpage

Course Content

The course will prepare students for the challenges they will face when they enter practice as it will cover all major practical knowledge needed in a competitive international intellectual property industry.

The Course consists of two taught modules running concurrently through the teaching year:

It covers the following subjects:

Fundamentals of the English legal system.
Challenges faced by IP practitioners. Ethics and codes of practice.
Patent law: Rationale, requirements for patentability, ownership and licensing, infringement, remedies, defences. Practice and management of patents: Obtaining a patent in the UK, EPC procedure, PCT procedure. Obtaining a patent in other jurisdictions.
Copyright law. Rationale and subsistence, subject matter (literary, artistic, musical and dramatic works), ownership, licensing, moral rights, economic rights, infringement, permitted acts.
Trade mark law. Registration, Absolute grounds for refusal of registration, infringement and relative grounds for refusal of registration, defences, invalidity, revocation, use. Practice and management of trade marks: Registering and maintaining a trade mark in the UK, International and transnational options for trade mark protection, registration and maintenance in other jurisdictions.
The law of passing off and the legal protection for unregistered trade marks in the UK.
Design rights: Registered and unregistered design, qualifying for protection, infringement, defences, invalidity and overlap with copyright. Practice and management of industrial design: Registering and maintaining a design in the UK and internationally.
Elements of the law of breach of confidence: The legal protection of trade secrets and confidential information.
Intellectual property licensing (negotiation, international perspectives – jurisdiction clauses, arbitration requirements) and elements of technology transfer.

Assessment

For each module you will be assessed twice, first by way of a written essay and then by way of an examination. Each assessment is worth 50% of the overall mark.

Employability

Graduates will have the skills to pursue a career in the area of intellectual property as lawyers, patent or trademark attorneys or IP portfolio managers. The course may also benefit those who wish to become IP paralegals.

For more details of career opportunities, please explore the external sites below:

Fees for 2013/14 entry

UK/EU students: £2,670 part-time
International students: £4,500 part-time

Read about funding opportunities available to postgraduate students

Fees quoted are per annum and are subject to an annual increase.

Entry Requirements

The normal requirement for admission will be a good undergraduate honours degree (normally a 2:2 or overseas equivalent) in law. The School may consider other applicants based on their qualifications, experience and potential to successfully to undertake and complete the course. Such applications are considered on a case by case basis by the Postgraduate Director.

English Language Requirements

IELTS: 6.5 (min 6 in all areas)
TOEFL Paper test: 580 (TWE 4.5)
TOEFL Internet test: 92 (R20, L20, S20, W20)
Pearson: 59 (51 in all subscores)
BrunELT 65% (min 60% in all areas)

Brunel also offers our own BrunELT English Test and accept a range of other language courses. We also have a range of Pre-sessional English language courses, for students who do not meet these requirements, or who wish to improve their English.