LL4AG Half Unit
Competition Law, Technology and Intellectual Property
This information is for the 2020/21 session.
Teacher responsible
Prof Pablo Ibanez Colomo
Availability
This course is available on the LLM (extended part-time), LLM (full-time), MSc in Regulation and University of Pennsylvania Law School LLM Visiting Students. This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.
This course will be relevant to the following LLM specialisms: Competition, Innovation and Trade; Corporate and/or Commercial Law; European Law; International Business Law.
This course is capped at 60 students. Students must apply through Graduate Course Choice on 杏吧论坛forYou.
Pre-requisites
Prior knowledge of Competition Law is desirable, but not essential.
Course content
This module addresses some of the most topical and intellectually challenging aspects of contemporary Competition Law. The emphasis will be put on US antitrust and EU Competition Law, but developments from other jurisdictions are discussed where relevant. The module examines, inter alia, the application of competition law in high-technology industries as well as its intersection with intellectual property (standard-setting agreements and issues arising in relation to the enforcement of patents in the pharmaceutical sector).
Topics may include the following:
- Competition Law, Intellectual Property and Innovation
- Competition Law in High-Technology Markets (including investigations involving the Big Tech giants like Google and Amazon)
- Online distribution and brand protection over the Internet
- Competition Law and the pharmaceutical industry
- Standard-setting and technology licensing
Teaching
This course is delivered through a combination of classes and lectures totalling a minimum of 20 hours in Lent Term. Students will usually have two additional hours in the Summer Term. This year teaching will be delivered through recorded online lectures and a mix of both in-person and online classes to accommodate students who are unable to physically be on campus. This course includes a reading week in Week 6 of Lent Term.
Formative coursework
All students are expected to produce one 2,000 word formative essay during the course.
Indicative reading
Whish, Competition Law (9th edn, 2018); Jones & Sufrin, EU Competition Law: Cases and Materials (4th edn, 2016); Elhauge & Geradin, Global Competition Law and Economics (3rd edn, 2018); Hovenkamp, The Antitrust Enterprise (2005).
Assessment
Exam (100%, duration: 2 hours, reading time: 15 minutes) in the summer exam period.
Important information in response to COVID-19
Please note that during 2020/21 academic year some variation to teaching and learning activities may be required to respond to changes in public health advice and/or to account for the situation of students in attendance on campus and those studying online during the early part of the academic year. For assessment, this may involve changes to mode of delivery and/or the format or weighting of assessments. Changes will only be made if required and students will be notified about any changes to teaching or assessment plans at the earliest opportunity.
Key facts
Department: Law
Total students 2019/20: 52
Average class size 2019/20: 26
Controlled access 2019/20: Yes
Value: Half Unit
Personal development skills
- Communication
- Specialist skills
