Study Programmes 2015-2016
DROI1259-1  
Copyright and new technologies
Duration :
30h AUTR
Number of credits :
Specialised master in European law, competition law and intellectual property5
Lecturer :
Benoît Michaux, Simon Vander Putten
Language(s) of instruction :
English language
Organisation and examination :
Teaching in the second semester
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite :
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Course contents :
Copyright protects all creations put into shape, provided they are original.
The objective of the Copyright and New Technologies course is to present the different elements of copyright law with an emphasis on the influence of new technologies. The related rights, software and database rights will also be considered. Emphasis will also be placed on the case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union.
Content of the class (subject to change) :


  • The field of application and the sources of copyright law
  • The conditions for the application of copyright
  • The right of reproduction
  • The right of communication to the public
  • Exceptions to copyright
  • Related rights
  • Databases
  • Computer programmes
  • Respect for copyright on the internet
  • Moral right of the author
  • General reflections and conclusions
Learning outcomes of the course :
By the end of the course, the students will be able to :


  • Fully understand the salient aspects of copyright in the European Union;  
  • Develop a critical analysis of European legislation and case law in the matter of copyright; understand the practical interest of these.  
  • Understand the impact of new technologies in the field of copyright law.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills :
A strong command of written and spoken English is required.
A basic knowledge of intellectual property law and of European substantive law is recommended.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods :
The course will be given in the form of an Anglo-Saxon seminar, comprising readings and work carried out at home followed by in-class discussions.
Students read one or more decisions from the CJEU and/or doctrinal texts to prepare for class and answer in advance questions concerning these texts.
Students will also complete a final written paper of about ten pages.
Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :
The course is given in the form of an Anglo-Saxon seminar comprising readings and work carried out at home followed by in-class discussions (face-to-face).
Recommended or required readings :
Recommended or compulsory readings are communicated generally before each session. A significant portion of the material comprises decisions from the Court of Justice of the European Union, which are available on: www.curia.eu
Assessment methods and criteria :
The method of assessment will be a written paper of about ten pages, an oral defence of this examination and a few questions on the material seen in class. For the latter questions, the examination will be open book.
Work placement(s) :
None
Organizational remarks :
The course is organized every year in the second term.
Contacts :
Simon Vander Putten (Simon.VanderPutten@ulg.ac.be)