Queen Mary Intellectual Property Research Institute
University of London (United Kingdom)

• University of London LLM (IP Grouping)
• MSc in Management of Intellectual Property
• Postgraduate Diplomas in Intellectual Property Law
• Certificate in Intellectual Property Law

University of London LLM (IP Grouping)

Queen Mary is one of the University of London institutions that provides teaching on the intercollegiate LLM programme. QMIPRI staff contribute a substantial portion of the teaching for the intellectual property options on offer.

Students gaining the LLM will be able to opt for an ‘Intellectual Property’ endorsement on their certificate if at least three of their passes fall within this subject grouping. (Two half subjects count as one of these). Since October 2000, Queen Mary, University of London has increased the number of IP law options offered on the LLM. The options now available are:

Full Courses (with LLM code):

• Industrial and Intellectual Property (41);

• International and Comparative Law of Patents, Trade Secrets and Related Rights (127);

• International and Comparative Law of Copyright and Related Rights (128);

• International and Comparative Law of Trade Marks, Designs and Unfair Competition (129);

• Global Policy and Economics of Intellectual Property Law (48);

• Intellectual Property in the Digital Millennium (51).

Half Courses (with LLM code):

• Franchising Law (43);

• Transfer of Technology Law (44).

The Graduate Prospectus sets out the standard conditions of entry. The usual qualification for entry to the LLM programme is a degree in law, or a degree with a substantial law content, normally of at least upper second class honours (or equivalent). The following are also qualified: a non-law graduate with good honours who has obtained the equivalent of First Class or Second Class honours in CPE and Bar Finals/Legal practice examinations, or has passed the solicitors’ qualifying examination. In exceptional cases, applicants not meeting the normal entry requirement may be considered if they have sufficient relevant legal experience.

MSc in Management of Intellectual Property

The idea behind the MSc course came in the mid-1980s from those who recognised the increasingly important role of intellectual property in our modern economy. There is an emerging need in industry, in commerce and in those professions concerned with intellectual property law, for science and technology graduates who have studied intellectual property law to a high level. In industry, particularly in small and medium-sized firms involved in research and development, where there is no in-house lawyer or patent agent, there is often a need for an intermediary between the firms and the external lawyer or patent agent for example; or for an executive to handle the inward or outward licensing of technology, to negotiate research and development contracts (where ownership of intellectual property is usually central to the bargaining) or generally to have a basic knowledge of current developments in the field of business law (e.g. contract law, product liability law) insofar as these may relate to the firm’s present or future activities.

Course Duration

Core Options

All students are required to study the core subject units which comprise first semester courses in Patent Law, Copyright and Designs Law, Law of Trade Marks and Unfair Competition, Competition Law and Basic Principles of English Law, Practice and Evidence.

• Copyright and Designs Law II;
• Trade Marks and Unfair Competition Law II;
• Competition Law II;
• Patent Law II;
• Management of Innovation and Design;
• Licensing Practice.

• International and Comparative Law of Patents, Trade Secrets and Related Rights;
• International and Comparative Law of Copyright and Related Rights;
• International and Comparative Law of Trade Marks, Designs and Unfair Competition;
• Global Policy and Economics of Intellectual Property Law;
• Intellectual Property in the Digital Millennium;
• Intellectual Property Licensing Law.

All diplomas are postgraduate. The normal admission requirement is an upper second class honours degree in law (or with law as the major element) from a university in the UK, or the equivalent from other universities. Equivalent professional qualifications and experience are accepted for specific diplomas at the discretion of course directors.

Each diploma consists of two components:

1. The core component is a compulsory course taken at Master of Law level in the specialist topic of the diploma. The course involves 25-30 weekly classes during the academic year together with associated project and class work and, in some cases, additional small group seminars. The title of each individual diploma indicates the core component for that diploma.
   

2. The optional component is of equal weight to the core component, but its nature can be varied to suit the needs of individual candidates. The candidate may prepare and submit a dissertation on a relevant subject agreed with the course director, take part (subject to availability) in a second course at Master of Law level in a subject approved by the course director, or submit a short dissertation and take part in a half-course. For diploma purposes, a dissertation is an extended essay of at least 15,000 words, and a short dissertation is of at least 7,500 words.

All diploma courses last for the full academic year, which runs from October until September the next year. The core component is normally assessed by a formal three-hour written examination set during August or September. Requirements of individual examinations vary, but the examinations are normally closed examinations requiring written answers rather than multiple choice questions.

Dissertations are assessed individually and must be submitted by the end of September. Candidates receiving sufficiently high marks overall may be awarded the diploma with distinction. The best of the candidates with distinction will be awarded the Director’s Prize.

Designed in close co-operation with the Chartered Institute of Patent Agents (CIPA) and the Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys (ITMA), the Certificate in Intellectual Property Law is an intensive 13-week course for trainee patent and trademark agents. Trainees who successfully complete this course gain exemption from the Joint Examination Board foundation level exams of both organisations.

The objective of the course is to provide trainees with a broad overall perspective of intellectual property law. This will enable students to gain a balanced appreciation of the wide range of issues that modern intellectual property practice involves. Preferably, students will be familiar with some of the language, documentation and procedures of patents and/or trademarks through possessing office experience of six months to a year.

The course begins with a one-week introduction to the Basic Principles of English Law, Practice and Evidence. This is followed by intensive coverage of the Law and Practice of Patents Law (15 sessions), Trade Marks and Unfair Competition (12 sessions), Copyright and Designs Law (10 sessions) and Competition Law (10 sessions). The latter is included because, in one sense, it is the antithesis of ‘monopoly’ or exclusive rights, which intellectual property laws aim to protect.

Although the emphasis of the course is primarily upon UK law, it is not exclusively so. Considerable attention is paid to the European Patent Convention, to EU law and to other regional arrangements and international conventions that affect the activities of UK practitioners. There is also a high degree of practitioner contribution. Visits from patent, trade mark and other practitioners build upon the academic sessions with their experience of the law in action.