Handbook information

Contents

Law and Economics can be defined as the application of economic theory, ie primarily microeconomics and the basic concepts of welfare economics, to examine the formation, structure, processes, and economic impact of law and legal institutions. This approach is applied on intellectual property rights (IPRs), particularly trade marks, patents, trade secrets and copyright, to explain the economic rationale of these rights. This takes place using as tools, among other things, concepts such as "market", "the individual as rational wealth maximizer","law as incentive", "efficiency", "transaction costs", "property rights", etc. In addition these concepts are used to test whether or not economics can be utilized as an argument when applying law in IPR cases. The course ends with discussing the connection between economics, competition, business strategy and IPRs.

Learning Objectives

The Learning Goals of the course Law and Economics of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) are to assure that each participant understands that there is a close connection between economics and IPRs and that economics cannot only be used when explaining, analyzing and evaluating the formation, structure and consequences of IPRs, but also when applying IP Law in a particular case.

Language of Instruction

English

Pre-requisites

The course is part of the M.Sc. program in intellectual property law. Other students are welcome. However, the instructor may limit the number of other students. 
There are no prerequisites for students in the M.Sc. program in intellectual property law. Other students: basic course in intellectual property law.

Contact hours

24 h

Instruction

Lectures, classroom discussion and term paper.

Literature

Landes, W. M. & Posner, R. A. (2003). The Economic Structure of Intellectual Property Law. Belknap Press of Harvard University Press.

Evaluation and Examination

Written examination, which is based on the literature (including lectures), and term paper.

Instructor

Oker-Blom, Max