Course Catalog

 

LLM 370 - Air, Space, and Telecommunications Law

This course acquaints students with public, private, and commercial aspects of international air and space law in the context of national sovereignty over territorial air space. Students also explore the commercial uses of space and outer space for satellite communications, direct broadcasting, remote sensing, weather forecasting, and other uses of space for peaceful purposes within the existing framework of relevant multilateral treaties.
Credit: 3 Units  

LAW 782 - Art and the Law

This course focuses on legal issues related to visual arts and explores the artist's rights in their work of art, specifically matters relating to property rights, including copyright, moral rights and resale rights, while examining issues relating to license agreements with third parties. Corequisite: Intellectual Property Law Survey
Credit: 2 Units  

LAW 839A - Biotechnology Law

This course examines the legal issues arising from the intersection of biology, technology, and intellectual property law (especially patent), focusing primarily on current topics of interest such as cloning, assisted reproduction, and genetically modified foods and crops. Topics are explored mainly through internet sources and guest lecturers. Students research, write, and present to the class a publication-quality paper on a biotechnology topic of their choice. Prerequisite: High school level understanding of cellular and molecular biology. Some knowledge of patent law is a plus.
Credit: 3 Units  

LAW 823L - Content Licensing

The focus of this course is the licensing of intellectual property content in both traditional circumstances and the online environment. Through lectures and writing exercises, students learn the key points to be included in licensing agreements for domestic and international transactions. Negotiating strategies are analyzed, and issues unique to technology content transfers are also addressed.
Credit: 2 Units  

LAW 823 - Copyright Law of the U.S.

This in-depth analysis of U.S. copyright law includes the history of the law, from the first copyright statutes through the major revisions of the 1909 Act, the 1976 Act, and the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998. Students explore legal issues relating to the registration process, defenses such as fair use and parody, and remedies for infringement. Terms for the licensing and/or transfer of copyright are also examined. Includes the impact of the use of digital media and the growth of the Internet on copyright protection. Intellectual Property LLM students are required to take this course, Trademark Law of the U.S., or Patent Law of the U.S.
Credit: 3 Units   Offered: Summer 2009 , Fall 2009  

LAW 743B - Cyberlaw & Privacy

This course explores data protection, intellectual property, online liability, Internet governance and standards, jurisdiction, and other emerging issues in Cyberlaw. This course also focuses on privacy issues: surveillance by companies, in the workplace and by the government; privacy policies; email/spam; children online; and international privacy compliance. Students examine new and pending Internet and privacy-related legislation and its impact on business and technology. Recommended: Internet and Software Law or Intellectual Property Law Survey.
Credit: 3 Units   Offered: Fall 2009  

LLM 399 - Directed Study

A Directed Study is an independent study project for LLM students done under the supervision of a faculty member or supervising attorney for academic credit. Directed Study can be taken for 1 to 3 units. The project can be on any topic agreed to by the student, faculty member or supervising attorney, and the LLM program director. Directed Study can be taken for a letter grade or for a Credit/No Credit grade and must be decided at the time of topic approval. All papers submitted under this program should reflect approximately 70 hours of work per unit of credit.
Credit: 1 - 3 Units   Offered: Summer 2009 , Fall 2009 , Spring 2010  

LAW 743A - e-Commerce Law

A broad spectrum of laws governing business conduct has been substantially affected by the digital revolution, such as copyright, trademark, contracts, banking, privacy, and antitrust. The Internet phenomenon has required new laws to protect against undue incursions from technology, creating new rights unneeded before. This course looks at establishing Internet business, information privacy, electronic pop-up advertising, spam messages and spyware, remote and click-wrap contracting, digital signatures, B2B Internet exchanges, P2P file-sharing, Internet auctions, licensing of information, electronic banking, and current Internet business and litigation.
Credit: 2 Units   Offered: Spring 2010  

LAW 833 - Entertainment Law

An introduction to the complex legal issues arising in the areas of music sound recordings and publishing, motion pictures, television, theater, and literary publishing in the United States and internationally. Covers the drafting of contracts in the entertainment industry, as well as dispute resolution alternatives. Students also study the roles of attorneys, agents and personal managers, as well as relevant legislation affecting the entertainment industry.
Credit: 3 Units   Offered: Fall 2009  

LLM 310A - Intellectual Property Law LLM Seminar

Students meet with the director of the LLM in intellectual property law program to discuss the progress of their thesis research. They also participate in discussion and analysis of recent statutory and case law developments in intellectual property law. (Offered only to students enrolled in the LLM in intellectual property law program.)
Credit: 3 Units  

LAW 823E - Intellectual Property Law Survey

An introduction to the U.S. law of copyright, trademark, and patent, this course explores state law of trade secrets, unfair competition, and the role of IP protection of computer programs. The course is designed for students interested in focusing on IP law or in simply getting a basic understanding of the key legal principles of IP law.
Credit: 3 Units   Offered: Fall 2009 , Spring 2010  

LAW 823D - Intellectual Property Litigation: Copyright and Trademark

This course takes students through the various stages of an intellectual property litigation case, focusing on the issues specific to litigating trademark cases and copyright cases. Infringement and breach of contract situations form the basis for study and analysis. Litigation strategies, discovery techniques, and settlement negotiation issues are also addressed.
Credit: 2 Units   Offered: Spring 2010  

LAW 823C - International Intellectual Property Law

This course discusses the impact of TRIPS and other international intellectual property treaties, including Paris and Berne, on the changes and interpretations in domestic U.S. law and selected countries outside the United States. The post-TRIPS environmental, current, and proposed legislation are also covered. Recommended: Intellectual Property Law Survey, Patent Law of the U.S., or Trademark Law of the U.S.
Credit: 2 Units   Offered: Fall 2009  

LLM 380A - International Patent Law

This course is divided into two parts. The first part provides students with a working knowledge of the treaties, regulations, and procedural requirements that govern the protection of intellectual property in the international legal system. In the second part, students apply that knowledge to a series of practical exercises emphasizing real-world considerations, analyses, and drafting skills. Topics include patents under international law, international agreements and patent treaties, filing international patent applications, overview of foreign patent laws, and licensing technology in other countries.
Credit: 3 Units  

LAW 743 - Internet and Software Law

This course covers the key issues in cyberspace law. Students explore the application of traditional legal principles to this new technology and examine issues regarding regulation of access, the impact of code architecture on regulation of conduct, and jurisdictional issues (both domestic and international). This courses also covers the basics of e-commerce, including digital certification/verification, UCITA, EDI, and EFI. Emphasis is placed on issues relating to privacy and indecent materials online.
Credit: 3 Units   Offered: Spring 2010  

LAW 833D - Negotiating and Drafting Contracts in the Entertainment Business

This advanced course in entertainment law focuses on the drafting and negotiation of the numerous agreements involved in entertainment projects. Sound recording and publishing contracts in the music business and licensing agreements for the online distribution of music and audiovisual works are examined in detail. Students get hands-on experience in drafting these agreements. They also analyze negotiation points and discuss negotiation tips and strategies with experienced practitioners in entertainment law.
Credit: 2 Units   Offered: Spring 2010  

LAW 875B - Patent Application Process From A to Z

This is a practical course that traces an invention from conception to the issuance of a U.S. patent. The major emphasis in the class is on the filing and prosecution of a patent application at the United States Patent and Trademark Office, using the rules and procedures outlined in the U.S. patent codes and rules, and the United States Patent and Trademark Office's Manual of Patent Examining Procedures. The course is especially useful for students who want to take the patent bar and/or work in the area of patent preparation and prosecution.
Credit: 3 Units  

LAW 875 - Patent Law of the U.S.

This course explores U.S. patent law in depth. The emphasis is on the patent law statute, Title 35 of United States Code, and the case law that has interpreted this statute. In addition to class discussions of the cases and statutes and a final exam, patent law principles are applied in a practical manner in a graded student project. Past projects have included Markman hearing materials and infringement opinion letters. A technical background is a plus. Intellectual Property LL.M. students are required to take this course, Copyright Law of the U.S., or Trademark Law of the U.S.
Credit: 3 Units   Offered: Spring 2010  

LAW 875C - Patent Litigation

This course takes students through the various stages of preparing a patent infringement or validity challenge case through trial. Litigation strategies, discovery, and pre-trial motions are covered.
Credit: 2 Units  

LLM 347B - Principles of Valuation

A general survey of valuation for income tax purposes including a study of reasons for valuations, the methods used to measure value, and why income tax valuation may differ from transaction valuation. The course will also cover how to analyze complex income tax valuation disputes and current income valuation insights. (Offered through the LLM in Taxation Program. JD students seeking to enroll must obtain the approval of the program director.)
Credit: 1 Units   Offered: Spring 2010  

LAW 873 - Sports Law

This survey of the complex legal relationships found in major professional teams and leagues includes contracts, antitrust, labor law, torts, workers compensation, and gender discrimination brought to bear on current issues in the sports industry. Practical guidance in representing athletes is stressed.
Credit: 2 Units   Offered: Fall 2009  

LLM 347 - Taxation of Intellectual Property

This course addresses the tax treatment of intellectual property in a wide range of issues including: tax treatment of the development of IP, distinctions between self-produced and purchased IP, tax treatment of sales and other transfers of IP (treatment of a transfer as a sale or as a license, and the significance of this treatment), and the treatment of IP in non-recognition transactions. International tax topics covered will include: sourcing of income from the use of IP, withholding tax and other taxes on royalties, the impact of tax treaties on licensing, development of IP in tax-favored jurisdictions and transfer pricing rules regarding such development, the use of a "buy-in" or "cost-sharing agreement" and current developments regarding these strategies. There will also be brief coverage of state and local issues regarding IP. Prerequisite: Characterization of Income & Expenditures or Federal Income Taxation. (Offered through the LLM in Taxation Program. JD students seeking to enroll must obtain the approval of the program director.)
Credit: 1 Units  

LLM 386 - Thesis

A thesis is an independent study project for LLM students done under the supervision of the LLM Program Director. Thesis can be taken for 4-6 units. The thesis can be on any topic agreed to by the student and the Program Director. Thesis can be taken for a letter grade or for a Credit/No Credit grade and must be decided at the time of topic approval. All papers submitted under this program should reflect approximately 70 hours of work per unit of credit.
Credit: 4 - 6 Units   Offered: Summer 2009 , Fall 2009 , Spring 2010  

LAW 891 - Trademark Law of the U.S.

This course covers U.S. trademark law and the role trademark protection plays in interstate commerce. Students explore the legal issues arising from the registration process with special attention to the business perspectives on trademark protection. The course also examines the interaction between domain names and trademarks and the general impact of the Internet on trademark law. Intellectual Property LL.M. students are required to take this course, Copyright Law of the U.S. or Patent Law of the U.S.
Credit: 3 Units   Offered: Spring 2010