Intellectual Property Law

A study of the Copyright Act, with coverage of the subject matter of copyright, copyright ownership and transfers, the nature of copyright rights, copyright infringement, remedies, and First Amendment considerations. Close Window

A review of the legal protection of artistic, technical and business creativity through the law of copyrights, trademarks, patents and trade secrets. Close Window

The course will present the essential principles of the patent law, as well as significant policy considerations which are the basis for many patent doctrines. Highlighted will be decisions of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Close Window

An overview of federal trademark law and policy, including the acquisition and loss of trademark rights, the trademark registration process, issues relating to scope and enforcement of rights across geographic boundaries, trademark infringement and dilution, lawful unauthorized use, and remedies. Related issues such as federal false advertising law and state right of publicity law may be considered. Close Window

Administrative law establishes the legal controls over the operation of government and hence it relates to almost every legal practice, from security regulation to social programs to criminal justice. This coure is an introductory examination of the rules and procedures government federal agencies. It explores: (1) the Constitutional background and limitations on agency action, (2) the procedural requirements (from various sources) that an agency must follow, and (3) the doctrines of judicial review that apply whenever a court evaluates agency decisions. Close Window

Legal Principles in Protecting the Past. This course will introduce students to the concept of cultural heritage and examine the laws and ethics involved with the protection of cultural property. Through discussions of public policy, domestic and international law, and international conventions, students will learn basic principles governing the movement and ownership of cultural heritage, particularly as related to the restitution and repatriation of stolen art. We will explore the effects of war, colonialism, and modern development on cultural heritage through case studies on looted antiquities, Nazi-plundered art, and tribal repatriation. In addition to case law and relevant legal treatises, students will review case filings to develop an understanding of how advocacy works in an emerging area of law. Students will write a graded final paper in lieu of a final examination. Close Window

New products, tools, and processes incorporating artificial intelligence, the Internet-of-Things, blockchains, and other emerging technologies are an increasingly common part of modern life. Some, such as driverless cars and smart homes, may change fundamental aspects of daily life. Others, such as complex algorithms have already altered the nature of financial markets. This seminar provides an introduction to these issues so that students will be better prepared for our complex future. The course will address the implications of A.I. and other emerging technological solutions on subjects such as liability, contracts, intellectual property, criminal procedure, and the administration of justice. A paper is required in lieu of a final examination. Close Window

Data breaches and other cybersecurity incidents are making headlines on a regular basis. While no two cybersecurity incidents are the same, they all have one thing in common—they are fraught with a variety of legal risks. This course examines a lawyer’s role in preparing for and responding to cybersecurity incidents, from directing forensic investigations to working with law enforcement to assessing notification obligations and more. Students will review relevant legislation, regulatory guidance and enforcement actions, and case law. Students will also discuss policy considerations at play in the quickly evolving legislative and regulatory landscape. The course concludes with a mock scenario where students put what they’ve learned into practice. This course is graded pass/fail based on class participation and contribution during the mock scenario. Close Window

This course addresses the legal and practical issues inherent in conducting electronic discovery in civil cases, especially under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. No special information technology knowledge or background is required. NOTE; students may not register for this course if they are registered for, or successfully completed, Electronic Discovery, LAW 358. Close Window

An examination of the federal judicial system encompassing such topics as allocation of federal judicial power; original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court; the Eleventh Amendment; suits in federal court against state officials; restrictions on federal adjudication of state-created rights; federal question jurisdiction and federal common law. Close Window

This 3-credit course will examine in depth the First Amendment's guarantees of freedom of speech, press, and association. We will discuss First Amendment theories or justifications; the regulation of various categories of expression including incitement to unlawful action, threats, libel, child pornography, commercial speech, and obscenity; and content-neutral restrictions including limits on symbolic content (e.g., draft card burning, flag desecration, and nude dancing). The course will cover application of the First Amendment to government while acting in special capacities, including employer, educator, landlord, subsidizer/speaker, regulator of the airwaves, regulator of the Bar, controller of the military, prison warden, and regulator of immigration. The course will also cover certain ancillary First Amendment rights, including the right not to speak and the right of expressive association. Finally, we will examine the 'press' and newsgathering rights. Close Window

This course will examine the ways in which Congress, the Food and Drug Administration, and the courts have gone about regulating the food and drug industries. We will highlight current issues which may include the FDA's jurisdiction and enforcement authority concerning dietary supplements; the regulation of food additives; food labeling; the implications of globalism in the pharmaceutical industry; "orphan drugs;" and the relationship between federal regulation and state law. The course will be graded on the basis of in-class participation and a final examination. Close Window

This class will give students an overview of the U.S. health care system. We will examine various legal and policy issues related to the health care system, including: the legal structure of the patient-physician relationship; how our legal system addresses issues of quality and choice; structures and mechanisms of the Affordable Care Act; Federal-State tensions regarding insurance regulation; how our legal system regulates the behavior of medical professionals and institutions; and patient privacy and confidentiality. Students will develop an understanding of the trajectory that the U.S. health care system has taken in these areas, as well as the current reforms implicating them. In addition, we will examine laws and policies that surround issues of public health, such as vaccines, obesity rates, and State-mandated screenings and data collection. Close Window

Much of the law school curriculum, especially in the first year, focuses on judge-made common law. But for many lawyers today, reading and interpreting statutes is more important. This course will provide you with an overview of the legislative process, which is the source of those statutes. It will consider the distinctive features of statutory law as opposed to other forms of law. Most importantly, the course will introduce you to various approaches to interpreting statutes and teach you the rules and doctrines of statutory interpretation used in federal and state courts – material with great practical value as well as theoretical interest. The course will also give some attention to the role of administrative agencies as implementers and interpreters of statutes. Grades will be based primarily on a final examination. Students who are taking or have previously taken Statutory Interpretation, LAW 638, are not eligible to enroll. Close Window

Should the NSA tap Americans' phone calls? Should Target be liable to consumers for data breaches? What if Snapchat doesn't really delete images but stores them--should users have recourse? Given modern technological realities, is privacy dead? This course will review the historical roots of the concept of privacy in U.S. law, the common clash between privacy and the public good, and the shifting balance of privacy rights in rapidly changing technological contexts. We will aim to understand privacy's place amidst the swirl of commercial and national security interests and the rise of the global Internet. Grades will be determined by class participation and a final exam. Close Window

This course involves a study of the law of judicial remedies, both legal and equitable, and focuses on the nature and scope of available relief. The course emphasizes the various remedies available, including compensatory and punitive damages, injunctions, declaratory judgments, restitution, and enforcement proceedings. It provides a brief study of the development of chancery courts and the continuing distinction between equitable and legal remedies. Special attention is given to the appropriateness of various remedies to given situations. Substantive examples will come primarily from contract and tort law, but property interests, statutory violations, and constitutional harms also will be discussed. Close Window