Intellectual Property

Discussion — 2 units. We will take an intensive look at important issues in Trademark Law, including the nature of trademarks, the acquisition and loss of trademark rights,  trademark registration, trademark infringement, federal aspects of unfair competition law,  defenses to infringement, and expressive uses of trademarks.  We will also explore the legal frameworks surrounding actions for false advertising, false endorsement, and rights of publicity.

Final Assessment: Exam

King Hall’s Intellectual Property Externship allows students to earn academic credit in the fall and spring semesters with government, academic, and nonprofit entities on assignments related to evaluating, obtaining, and licensing intellectual property. Typical assignments may include assisting in patent prosecution, prior art searches, freedom to operate analyses, license drafting, and license negotiations. Prior placements have included the UC Davis Tech Transfer Office and the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

Seminar — 2 units. This skill-based course examines the core requirements and strategies for drafting and prosecuting a patent application before the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (US PTO). We will examine the theory and practice of drafting patent claims and their supporting disclosure, conducting inventor interviews, and performing patentability searches and other preparatory fact investigations. A major objective of the course will be in helping students draft and prosecute a complete patent application in a real-world setting.

Lecture — 2 units.  This course focuses on the law of trade secrets, including the Defend Trade Secret Act (DTSA), the Uniform Trade Secret Act (UTSA), restrictive covenants and covenants not to compete, current case law developments, and overlap between trade secret laws and employment laws.  There is also discussion of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act and computer forensics. No technical background is required.

This course will be taught as an accelerated course. Class will meet for 9 weeks, starting with the first week of the semester.

Discussion — 2 units. This class will explore the foundational principles of Entertainment Law, as well as emerging developments in this area of law and practice. We will study the application of intellectual property rights and rights of personhood (copyright, trademark, publicity, etc.) to artists/creators, famous individuals, and the industry at large, with surveys into the various sub-industries within the general category of Entertainment (music, TV, film, gaming, etc.) and the assorted laws that apply to each.

Skills — 1 unit. The course is designed to develop professional level research skills using intellectual property print and online materials. A brief lecture will start each class with the remaining class time spent researching real-world fact patterns and discussing findings in class.

Final Assessment: Combined scores from several graded exercises
Grading Mode: Letter Grading
Graduation Requirements: Counts towards Professional Skills Requirement

Seminar — 2 units. This seminar course will evaluate the privacy and cybersecurity issues that arise from technological advancements. The course will primarily focus on corporate surveillance and consumer data trade arrangements with corporate actors. Likely topics that the course will cover include the Internet of Things and legal responses to privacy related problems, such as the European General Data Protection Regulation and the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018.

Discussion — 3 units. This course examines the international regulation of intellectual property rights and explores the place of the United States in the international IP community. We will discuss international treaties and legal harmonization efforts, legislation and case law from different jurisdictions, and the role of technology.

Pre-requisite: Completed or simultaneously enrolled in Law 274 Intellectual Property, and/or Law 296 Copyright is required.
Grading Mode:  Letter Grading
Final Assessment: Exam