Intellectual Property in the Digital Age

PGPH 7191 | Spring 2012 | Faculty: Michelle Bogre

This on-line class will introduce students to the practical and legal issues surrounding copyright, trademark and patent protection in the digital age. It will sensitize students to the many issues they will face in their efforts to sell, distribute, protect and defend their creative works and products. The course also will explore the implications of contract law, of “work for hire” and “non-compete” clauses, and of moral rights laws as they pertain to art works. Students will learn about the scope and the limitations of the protections that current law provides; how to identify and anticipate the issues surrounding sharing of works in this digital age; and how to protect their property rights in their works. Although this is not a “law” course, students will engage with these issues through assigned readings of law cases, selected current essays and articles. The readings will be supplemented by “real-life” exercises and practice-based assignments. This class is open to students from all divisions and disciplines, including art, fashion, design, media studies, film, music and creative writing.