The course will be devoted to exploring the interface between Law of the EU and Intellectual Property Rights. General aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (patents, trade marks, copyrights, know how), European Union Law and Competition Law will be analyzed.
The course is structured into different parts. Following an introduction aimed at underlining the characteristics of the different categories of Intellectual Property Rights, the course subsequently examines the application of EU Law to Intellectual Property Law. Next, the main challenges that Intellectual Property Rights raise with regard to EU Law are investigated in depth, especially in respect to the Free Movement of Goods and Competition Law. The most common settings of EU Law in which Intellectual Property Rights are at stake are thoroughly studied.
The course is intended to provide students with knowledge of the situations involving Intellectual Property Rights and with an understanding of the reasons why the application of EU Law can be problematic in relation to them. Particular emphasis will be placed on practices involving Intellectual Property Rights that can raise issues regarding the Internal Market provisions as well as Articles 101 and 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
Professor: Mario SIRAGUSA