Lecturers: Dr Martin Husovec & Dr Luke McDonagh

Intellectual property is at the core of all modern economies. Digital technologies are shaped by rights of creators and inventors, and the licensing practices that have evolved around these rights. Thus, understanding what intellectual property rights protect is indispensable to understand the world around us.

How do content creators get paid? Does YouTube have to pay all its users? How do companies build their brands? Can they trademark colours? How do inventors secure rights over their inventions? Are patents always good indicators of quality?

All these questions shape cultural, scientific and business interactions in today’s modern economy. Thus, regardless of the industry, understanding the key principles and challenges of IP is essential. This course introduces the intellectual property law system and its role in forming the building blocks of the modern economy.