Scope of IP in the UK Universities
Applying licensing deals, UK universities are now leveraging their IP. Licensing deals are helping universities protect their IP, retaining ownership. Spinout deals allow buyers to use a spinoff product, leading a UK university to sell its spinoff product and/or a research outcome to another company.
In 2015, Apple Inc. purchased a vocal IQ, a University of Cambridge spinoff, for its AI-based natural language skill. In 2017, ARM Ltd purchased a University of Warwick spinout at £18 million. This is how UK universities encourage students in their IP researches and make money.
Intellectual Property Awareness Network (IPAN) is working across the UK for championing the commercial understanding of IP and IP-related workforce, beyond the bookish knowledge. Its members include professional and academic organisations.
IPAN is also working for UK Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and ensured that the IP is also a part of education for the Engineering Council UK and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. UK business school are also training their postgraduate students, getting them equipped with job-oriented IP skills and knowledge.
Best Universities to Watch Out For
LLM Guide website picked few Universities where studying postgraduate taught law course (LLM) in IP may be beneficial. Amongst them, the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) secured the first rank. What do they offer?
Interestingly, their IP course includes media law and regulation, competition law, and cultural property and heritage laws. According to them, this academic structure shall help society translate economic, cultural, and political pressure into legal initiatives. Some of their modules are, Competition Law, Technology and Intellectual Property, Regulation: Strategies and Enforcement, The Legal Protection of Inventions, etc.
King’s College London (KCL), a Russell group university ranking second in the list, emphasises innovations, creative works, collections of data, and communications infrastructure, with their Intellectual Property and Information Law pathway. With this course, they would like to ensure that the students have the proper skills and knowledge to evaluate and analyse how those areas work.
Their optional modules include International and Comparative Copyright Law, Privacy and Information Law, Arbitration of International IP Disputes, Patents, and Trade Secrets. The course also helps practitioners and prospective practitioners understand what ‘brand’, ‘brand management and ‘innovation’ mean, according to the university.
The University of Edinburgh, ranking third in the list, offers an in-depth study on contemporary issues with their Intellectual Property Law course in LLM. The study tends to address pressing issues relating to IP policies and investigates those with national legislations and international frameworks.
At Edinburgh, students avail themselves an opportunity to publish their articles through SCRIPT-ed, a peer-reviewed journal. Similarly, extra-curricular activities varying every year, such as Annual Oxford International Intellectual Property Law Moot Competition, an art exhibition at a 3D printing studio, may increase student’s interest. The core courses include Intellectual Property and Human Rights, International Intellectual Property System, etc.
The University College London, which is also a Russell Group university and a League of European Research Universities, offers a law LLM programme with an Intellectual Property Law degree. In their IP specialist degree, they offer only four modules – Competition Law, Regulation and the Intangible Economy, Copyright and Designs, Law of Patents, Trade Marks and Unfair Competition in the UK, Europe and the United States.
The Queen Mary University of London, a Russell Group university and a member of the University of London securing 5th place in the list, offers a cutting edge insight into the business of a patent attorney or a litigator, with their Intellectual Property Law LLM study. The students also avail an opportunity of a year-long paid traineeship in IP under the Pan-European Seal Profession Traineeship Programme, helping students stand out with their internship and job applications.
University Testimonials
The University of Kent, which is also widely acclaimed for its IP modules and researches, opines that it is important to know how the software, computer, music and other IP-related industries work, and how IP shapes and drives the economy.
The Edinburgh University considers that IP-intensive sectors do contribute to the GDP and national employment, and they should be studied very well. However, in a nutshell, the universities are helping students increase their skills in understanding, analysing, and developing their knowledge in IP and skills which they could apply to legal practices.
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