Survey of Intellectual Property

There are no prerequisites for this course. It is appropriate for anyone who wishes to gain a broader understanding of Intellectual Property (IP), regardless of their background or career goal. No prior knowledge of science, engineering, design, or anything else beyond your standard 1L law school subjects is necessary.

Intellectual property law permeates almost every aspect of modern society, whether we re talking about Apple (the company) or apples (the fruits). This survey course of IP law is designed to provide students with the foundational knowledge necessary to understand the legal nuances of modern culture and business. It covers the six foundational questions of IP law: what, who, where, when, why, and how. The course aims to give students a broad understanding of what kinds of assets can be protected, when are such protections granted, to whom are they granted, where do such protections apply, how are they enforced, and why IP law exists in the first place. The course focuses on copyright, trademarks, and patents, though trade secrets and rights of publicity, among other IP frameworks, will also be mentioned.