Curriculum
Our modularized curriculum consists of three sections:
- a compact Preparatory Module,
- a section of required modules, and
- a section listing the various elective modules from which students may choose.
(CP = credit point; CH = credit hour. 1 credit hour is equivalent to 700 minutes of teaching.)
| Legal Tradition (Civil Law & Common Law) (111-0) | 0 CP | 1 CH |
| Legal Research and Writing (112-0) | 0 CP | 1 CH |
| Introduction to IP (114-0) | 0 CP | 0.5 CH |
| International IP Convention System (115-0) | 0 CP | 0.25 CH |
| Introduction to Economics (116-0) | 0 CP | 0.5 CH |
| Introduction to Competition/ Anti-Trust Law (117-0) | 0 CP | 0.25 CH |
Required Modules
| European Patent Law (201-0) | 3.0 CP | 2 CH |
| International and Comparative Patent Law (202-0) | 3.0 CP | 2 CH |
| European Copyright Law (301-0) | 3.0 CP | 2 CH |
| International and Comparative Copyright Law (302-0) | 3.0 CP | 2 CH |
| European, U.S. and International Trademark Law (401-0) | 3.0 CP | 2 CH |
| European, U.S. and International Design Law (402-0) | 1.5 CP | 1 CH |
| European and U.S. Competition Law (501-0) | 1.5 CP | 1 CH |
| Unfair Competition I (502-0) | 1.5 CP | 2 CH |
| Protection of Geographical Indications (503-0) | 1.5 CP | 1 CH |
| Licensing of IP Rights (601-0) | 1.5 CP | 1 CH |
| European and International (WTO) Law (901-0) | 1.5 CP | 1 CH |
| Jurisdiction and Conflict of Laws (902-0) | 1.5 CP | 2 CH |
II. Thesis Module (18 cp)
| Master's Thesis (001-0) | 18 CP |
Elective Modules
Advanced Patent Law (6 cp or 9 cp)
| International Trade and Patent Law (211-0) | 0.75 CP | 0.5 CH |
| Practical Training in European Patent Law (241-0) | 1.5 CP | 1 CH |
| Protection of Biotechnological Inventions (261-0) | 1.5 CP | 1 CH |
| Pharmaceuticals and IP (262-0) | 1.5 CP | 1 CH |
| TRIPS, Patents and Public Health (263-0) | 1.5 CP | 1 CH |
| Protection of Databases and other Neighboring Rights Protecting Investments (352-0) | 1.5 CP | 1 CH |
| Computers and the Law (651-0) | 3.0 CP | 2 CH |
| Science, Patents, and Start-ups (823-0) | 1.5 CP | 1 CH |
Advanced Copyright Law (6 cp or 9 cp)
| Enforcement of Copyright (341-0) | 1.5 CP | 1 CH |
| Technical Protection of Authors' Rights (351-0) | 1.5 CP | 1 CH |
| Protection of Databases and other Neighboring Rights Protecting Investments (352-0) | 1.5 CP | 1 CH |
| Entertainment Law (371-0) | 1.5 CP | 1 CH |
| Computers and the Law (651-0) | 3.0 CP | 2 CH |
| Internet Law I (652-0) | 1.5 CP | 1 CH |
| Computer Crime (951-0) | 1.5 CP | 1 CH |
The Micro- and Macro-Economic Context (6 cp or 9 cp)
| Theoretical and Economic Foundations of IP (812-0) | 1.5 CP | 1 CH |
| Innovation Policy (813-0) | 1.5 CP | 1 CH |
| Intangible Assets Valuation (821-0) | 1.5 CP | 1 CH |
| Strategic Management and IP in New Firms (822-0) | 1.5 CP | 1 CH |
| Science, Patents, and Start-ups (823-0) | 1.5 CP | 1 CH |
| Entrepreneurship (824-0) | 1.5 CP | 1 CH |
| Managerial Finance (825-0) | 1.5 CP | 1 CH |
| Taxation of IP (827-0) | 1.5 CP | 1 CH |
IP Transactions & Enforcement (6 cp or 9 cp)
| Enforcement of Copyright (341-0) | 1.5 CP | 1 CH |
| Cross-Border Trade in IP (621-0) | 1.5 CP | 1 CH |
| Licence Contract Drafting (631-0) | 1.5 CP | 1 CH |
| Patent and Trademark Enforcement (641-0) | 3.0 CP | 2 CH |
| Oral Advocacy (642-0) | 1.5 CP | 1 CH |
| Computers and the Law (651-0) | 3.0 CP | 2 CH |
| Intangible Assets Valuation (821-0) | 1.5 CP | 1 CH |
| The Federal Circuit (911-0) | 1.5 CP | 1 CH |
| Computer Crime (951-0) | 1.5 CP | 1 CH |
| Arbitration (981-0) | 1.5 CP | 1 CH |
| Arbitration Simulation (982-0) | 0.75 CP | 0.5 CH |
IP & Technology (6 cp)
| Protection of Biotechnological Inventions (261-0) | 1.5 CP | 1 CH |
| Protection of Databases and other Neighboring Rights Protecting Investments (352-0) | 1.5 CP | 1 CH |
| Computers and the Law (651-0) | 3.0 CP | 2 CH |
| Internet Law I (652-0) | 1.5 CP | 1 CH |
Advanced IP and Competition Law (6 cp or 9 cp)
Thesis Preparation (6 or 9 cp)
| This allows any combination of the courses offered in any other Required Elective Module in order to prepare for the Thesis Module. | 6 or 9 CP |
NB: Some of the above-mentioned courses are part of the GW IP Summer Program, held at MIPLC. Their availability therefore depends on whether or not they are offered as part of the Summer Program. The relevant decisions are made by te George Washington University Law School exclusively.
The MIPLC reserves the right to not offer certain courses in a given academic year.