Intellectual Property and Technology Law

General Advice

Rapidly increasing global technologies and the advent of the information age have made the protection of ideas or intangible property an urgent goal of our legal system. Students interested in intellectual property law (IP) and/or law and technology are invited to study current and proposed systems that, in the Constitution's words, are designed "to promote the progress of science and useful arts," Art. I, Section 8, and to compare the varied statutory and common-law frameworks that inform IP and technology law. IP specialties and sub-specialties include protection of fine art, literature, music, computer software, advertising, industrial design, and scientific research in areas such as genetics, agriculture or pharmaceuticals.

While federal statutes and case law regulate the majority of IP and technology legal areas, state law doctrines such as unfair competition and trade secret law also impact IP practice. Students are thus advised to take broad foundational courses such as administrative law, remedies, and civil practice to complement an IP and technology law curriculum.

Specific Courses/Frequency of Offering

• IP Survey (3 hrs.)(every year/fall day;occasionally/evening)
  
• Copyright (2 hrs.)(usually every year/day or evening)
  
• Patent Law (3 hrs.) (every year/evening)
  
• Products Liability (3 hrs.) (every year/day or evening)
  
• Electronic Media (2 hrs.) (occasionally/day)

Seminars (2 hrs. unless otherwise noted) (usually offered in late afternoon)

• Trademark (every year/evening)
  
• Various IP-related seminars

Sequencing of Courses

Students are encouraged to take the introductory IP survey course in their second year, to prepare for more in-depth specialization in Copyright, Patent or Trademark.

Career Opportunities

The Career Services Office notes that IP and technology law in the forms of patent, trademark, copyright, and biotechnology remains one of the strongest growth areas in job opportunities for law graduates. Both large and small firms are interested in meeting client needs with regard to bringing new products to market and protecting their use.

Career opportunities in IP and technology law are available to all students. Note, however, that admission to the Patent Bar generally requires an educational background (though not necessarily a degree) in the sciences.

Extracurricular Programs

Students interested in intellectual property or in law and technology are encouraged to join SIPLA, the Student Intellectual Property Law Association.