2019-2020 / DROI0228-1

Intellectual Property and Competition Law

Duration

20h Th

Number of credits

 Specialised master in European law3 crédits 

Lecturer

Julien Cabay, David Hull

Language(s) of instruction

English language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the second semester

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

Intellectual property plays an increasingly important role in the world economy. As it has grown in importance, it has posed unique and difficult challenges for the application of traditional competition law principles. Today, one of the most dynamic areas of the law is that which is now emerging at the critical intersection of intellectual property and antitrust. This course is designed as an advanced course for students who already have some background in competition law and intellectual property law. The course will jointly be taught by an IP specialist and a competition specialist, which will offer the students two distinct perspectives on the issues and highlight the tensions and convergence between both areas of law. We would also occasionally bring in outside speakers, such as leading policy makers from the European Commission, to participate in the discussion.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

Apart from specific knowledge that students will gain concerning intellectual property and competition law, the course will have the advantage of offering the students the opportunity to take an interdisciplinary approach to concrete legal problems.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

This course is designed as an advanced course for students who already have some background in competition law and intellectual property law.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

The course will be highly interactive and students may be asked to take one position or another in a case and discuss their arguments. 

Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning)

The class will typically consist of a short presentation by the professor combined with an interactive discussion of the cases and materials.  The focus will be on understanding key concepts and applying them to different factual scenarios.  

Recommended or required readings

Recommended reading generally will be assigned before each class.  These assignments typically will consist of a mixure of EU court cases, legislation and academic articles. 
PowerPoint presentations will often be used, and these will be provided to the students.

Assessment methods and criteria

Students are requested to draft a short paper on a hypothetical case and to present it orally. In addition, students might be asked to take partial examinations during the class. Partial examinations may consist of a written essay, multiple choice questions or other kind of assessment of course materials

Work placement(s)

None.

Organizational remarks

The course will be given in the second semester.  

Contacts

David Hull (dhull@vbb.com)
Julien Cabay (jcabay@ulg.be ; jcabay@ulb.ac.be)

Adaptation of teaching commitments following the COVID-19 pandemic for the May-June 2020 session

Teaching methods implemented : distance-learning

Classes are given remotely using Lifesize, offered by ULiège. In order to save the interactive features of the teaching method for this class, live sessions take place with both professors and the students following the regular schedule. The subject matters covered remain unchanged. Additional slidedecks have been provided to the students in replacement of the usual explanations on the blackboard.

Assessment subjects

Cf. supra (unchanged)

Assessment methods

The terms of the exam are unchanged, except that the discussion on the student's essay will take place remotely through videoconference.

Contacts

Cf. supra

Adaptation of teaching commitments following the COVID-19 pandemic for the Aug-Sept 2020 session

Assessment subjects

Assessment methods

Contacts