International Intellectual Property Law

Fall term 2019

Dates: Wednesdays, 12.15–14.00, Room 4.B47 (for updates see: https://vv.unilu.ch/details?code=HS191339)

Lecturer: PD, Dr. iur. Mira Burri, University of Lucerne, mira.burri@unilu.ch

Overview
This course focuses on the increasing importance of intellectual property rights in international law,
business transactions and litigation. It offers an introduction to the basic notions, forms, principles
and problems of intellectual property protection in transnational relations by discussing the law and
leading cases decided in the United States, the European Union and Switzerland, and by studying the
TRIPS Agreement of the World Trade Organization and relevant materials of the World Intellectual
Property Organization. Students will learn about the critical current and future policy issues
underlying the protection of intellectual property rights at the national and global level.
The knowledge gained in the course will be a great asset for those wishing to pursue a career in large
internationally positioned legal firms, in international organizations or in the Swiss federal
administration.

Learning objectives
• Furthering of the understanding, the application of knowledge and professional judgment in the
field of international intellectual property law.
• By the end of the course, students will be able to frame and independently assess current
developments in intellectual property law, to actively engage in debates and formulate legal
opinions on the topic based on acquired knowledge of national and international law and
practice, as well as contemporary legal scholarship.

Course structure and participation

The course is structured as a normal lecture in 12 weekly 2-hour sessions.
Class attendance and active participation are critical to success in the course. Students will be asked
to summarize and discuss texts and cases. Each class requires adequate preparation.

The final exam is oral and open book.

5 credits will be awarded.

Course materials
The course is taught on the basis of a reader, specifically prepared for the course as an abridged
version of the textbook Frederick M. Abbott, Thomas Cottier & Francis Gurry, International
Intellectual Property in an Integrated World Economy, 4th ed., New York 2019.
The reader covers all mandatory materials. The course slides will be provided on OLAT.

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Useful links
1. Intellectual property laws
Treaties Administered by WIPO
WTO Law
EU Intellectual Property Law
National Intellectual Property Laws
2. National and international organizations
WIPO
WTO
U.S. Copyright Office
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
EU IPO
IGE (Swiss IP Office)
Links to further organizations
3. Legal research links
Journal access
(via ZHB Luzern)
SSRN
EU Legislation and Case Law
WIPO Country Profiles
http://www.wipo.int/treaties/index.html
http://www.wto.org/english/docs_e/legal_e/final_e.htm
https://ec.europa.eu/growth/industry/intellectual-property_en
http://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/
http://www.wipo.int
http://www.wto.org
http://www.copyright.gov
http://www.uspto.gov
https://euipo.europa.eu/ohimportal/en
https://www.ige.ch/en.html
https://www.ige.ch/en/law-and-policy/international-ip-law.html
http://rzblx10.uni-
regensburg.de/dbinfo/dbliste.php?bib_id=zhblu&colors=7&ocolors=40&lett=f&gebiete=15
https://www.ssrn.com/en/
http://europa.eu/documentation/official-docs/index_en.htm
http://www.wipo.int/members/en/
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Schedule of sessions

Session No / Date Topics

Session 1: 18 September Introduction to IP law / International IP institutions

Session 2: 25 September Policies underlying international IP law / Basic principles of IP law

Session 3: 1 October Patent law Part 1

Session 4: 23 October Patent law Part 2

Session 5: 30 October Trademarks Part 1

Session 6: 6 November Trademarks Part 2

Session 7: 13 November Copyright Part 1

Session 8: 20 November Copyright Part 2

Session 9: 27 November Trade secrets and geographical indications Part 1

Session 10: 4 December Trade secrets and geographical indications Part 2

Session 11: 11 December Emerging trends and challenges in global IP law

Session 12: reserve date to be further confirmed

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