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LL4AG      Half Unit
Competition Law, Technology and Intellectual Property

This information is for the 2021/22 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 has a limited number of places and we cannot guarantee all students will get a place.

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 will have two hours of teaching content each week in Lent Term, either in the form of a two hour seminar or an online lecture and one hour class. There will be 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.

Course selection videos

Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.

Important information in response to COVID-19

Please note that during 2021/22 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 differing needs of students in attendance on campus and those who might be studying online. For example, this may involve changes to the mode of teaching 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 2020/21: 55

Average class size 2020/21: 14

Controlled access 2020/21: Yes

Value: Half Unit

Personal development skills

  • Communication
  • Specialist skills