Foundations of Intellectual Property - Self-Paced

36 Hours / Access Length: 8 Weeks / Delivery: Online, Self-Paced

Course Overview:

Intellectual Property rights are vital to any organization and can sometimes become the most valuable asset within the organization. This online course will explore the various types of intellectual property rights including trade secrets, copyrights, trademarks, and patents. Topics include planning and registration, licensing, management, protection, enforcement, remedies, and governmental relationships. This course is designed for individuals with little or no intellectual property background. 

Objectives:    

The students will be able to:

• Define and explain the various types of Intellectual Property;
• Demonstrate a knowledge of how the various types of Intellectual Property can be protected;
• Discuss the various registrations for protection of Intellectual Property;
• Discuss when Intellectual Property protection should be sought;
• Discuss the various international agreements regarding intellectual property; 
• Explain how to effectively manage and enforce Intellectual Property. 

Course Outline:

Week 1  Introduction / Assignment 1 / Quiz 1

• Overview of IP
• International Agreements
• Four Sources of Law
• Three  Branches of Government
• Types of Authority
• Common/Civil Law Comparison
• Legal Basis of IP Law

Week 2  Copyright / Assignment 2 / Quiz 2

• History of Copyright
• Duration
• Protection
• Ownership
• Licensing & Assignment
• Public Domain
• Infringement
• Injunctions
• Legal Defenses
• Fair Use
• First Sale Doctrine
• VARA / DMCA / FECA
• International Protection
• International Agreements

Week 3  Trademark / Assignment 3 / Quiz 3

• History of Trademark
• Classes of Goods & Services
• Geographic Indication
• Community Trademark (EU)
• Trade Dress
• Ownership
• Protection
• Registration
• Common Law  vs  Registered
• Damages
• Public Domain
• Fair Use
• Infringement
• Dilution
• Unfair Competition
• Lanham Act
• Licensing & Assignment
• Injunctions
• Proof of Use
• Trademark & Internet
• ACPA
• International Agreements

Week 4  Review and Exam 1  (Copyright and Trademark)

Week 5  Patent / Assignment 4 / Quiz 4

• Overview & Types
• Length of Protection
• Applications
• Patent Pending
• Provisional Patent Application
• Classifications
• Bayh-Dole Act
• Antitrust Laws
• Infringement
• Injunction
• Nonpublication Request( NPR)
• Damages
• Legal Defenses
• First to File / First To Invent
• America Invents Act
• Shop Rights
• European Patent Convention
• Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)
• General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)

Week 6  Trade Secret / Assignment 5 / Quiz 5

• History & Overview
• Misappropriation Action
• Injunction & Remedies
• Antitrust
• Parallel Research
• Reverse Engineering
• State Laws -UTSA
• Non Compete vs Non Disclosure Agreements
• Criminal Prosecution
• Damages
• Protective Order
• Spoilation Doctrine
• Public Domain
• Protection
• Submission of Ideas
• Licensing
• Economic Espionage Act
• Defend Trade Secrets Act
• General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)

Week 7  Licensing & IP Management / Assignment 6

• Licensing Overview
• Identification of Parties and Rights
• Territory and Term of License
• Licensing Contract Worksheet
• IP Management Reporting Relationships
• IP management Centralization vs Decentralization
• IP Departmental Hierarchy
• Role of IP management Department
• IP Management Objectives,/Activities,/Ownership / Research & Development

Week 8   Review and Exam 2 (Patent & Trade Secret)  & Comprehensive Exam

Through lectures, case studies, and research students gain an understanding of intellectual property rights.

This self-study course has no mentor. Students currently enrolled in a non-mentored course wishing to enroll in a mentored course must pay the additional fee on or before the start of the fourth week of a self-study course to receive mentor availability for the remainder of the course. Keep in mind that mentored courses are designed to provide research assistance. Mentored courses are still self-directed, NOT instructor-led/guided courses. Mentors cannot provide answers to specific test or exam questions, or provide guidance or consultation on specific business or legal matters. 

This course is developed, designed, and offered through Global Entrepreneurship Initiative (GEI). GEI reserves all intellectual property rights. Content cannot be copied, shared, or redistributed without the express written consent of GEI. All inquiries regarding the content of this course or intellectual property rights and clearances should be directed to ip@geius.org.

• Cable and DSL internet connections are recommended for the best experience.

• CPU: 1 GHz or higher
• RAM: 2 GB or higher
• Resolution: 1280 x 720 or higher
• Speakers / Headphones
• Microphone (Webinar / Live Online sessions)

• Microsoft Windows 7 or 10 (Home, Pro)
• Mac OSX 10 or higher.
• Latest Chrome OS
• Latest Linux Distributions

NOTE: While we understand that our courses can be viewed on Android and iPhone devices, we do not recommend the use of these devices for our courses. The size of these devices do not provide a good learning environment for students taking online or live online based courses.

• Latest Google Chrome is recommended for the best experience.
• Latest Mozilla FireFox
• Latest Microsoft Edge
• Latest Apple Safari

• Office suite software (Microsoft Office, OpenOffice, or LibreOffice)
• PDF reader program (Adobe Reader, FoxIt)
• Courses may require other software that is denoted in the above course outline.