INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS

Because of the intrinsically volatile nature of knowledge and information, in the current economic setting intellectual property rights have gone a long way towards becoming the pillars of the knowledge economy and powerful leverages in the hands of managers. Whether advocating open innovation or traditionally close innovation models, virtually each economic sector, each industry and entrepreneurial activity (regardless the size, from start-up to established MNC) and institutions of any dimension deal with intellectual property, from life sciences and clean technologies, to pharmaceuticals, agro-food, fashion and luxury, and entertainment. This course is aimed at providing students with a basic and operational knowledge of topics in intellectual property and the transfer of technology as a critical disciplinary endowment for future managerial decisions in high-tech, knowledge-intensive industrial sectors and services, as well as in traditional industries. The course will hinge on the fundamental legal notions about intellectual property protection, but it will also move forward, along the lines of a marked law-and-business approach, in mixing legal, technological and economic views to make students acquainted with the complexities of institutional decision-making when intangible assets are involved.

There are no pre-requisites for this course, although basic knowledge of legal concepts might be helpful

As a result of this course, the student will have a fairly complete knowledge of the regulatory framework governing intellectual property rights at regional and international level and will be able to apply substantive and procedural notions to solve cases of particular complexity that involve the management of intellectual property rights in corporate context.

The course deals with intellectual property rights as legal techniques as well as peculiar and unique leverages managers have over intangible resources of the firm. How companies are able to gain and retain a competitive advantage through the management of R&D’s results is explained, moving from the basic assumption of economic theories that justify intellectual property protection. Lessons will deal with all main types of intellectual property rights, although preference will be given to the main forms of protection, moving from trade secrecy protection (in light of the international regulations and the current EU directive), patents (both at national and supranational level, including the PCT system), trademarks (both national, European and international), copyrights (particularly as far as digital copyright is concerned in the wake of the digital revolution and the recent developments at European level about online activities). For each form of protection, the course will explore subject-matter, the way rights are generated, international procedures for protection, requirements and enforcement. The course will also discuss recent challenges to the intellectual property system, including open source movements (for software and content protection, and beyond), the interaction within intellectual property and additive manufacturing (3D printing) and the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) on creative and inventive activities.

Massimiliano Granieri, Intellectual Property for Managers. Law, Practice and Strategy, Luiss University Press, II edition (forthcoming 2023). The first edition is still available for initial consultation (ISBN: 978-88-6105-187-4) http://www.luissuniversitypress.it/site/it-IT/Scheda/default.html?SchedaID=14016 http://www.ibs.it/code/9788861051874/granieri-massimiliano/intellectual-property-managers.html Additional papers on specific topics not covered in the book will be made available through the elearn.LUISS platform for each module they refer, together with a deck of slides used in class. Typically, students are expected to use and combine three sources for passing the exam; their notes, the book and the slides made available by the instructor.

The course is based on lectures and also on discussions of cases with students. Participation is encouraged and interactions on class topics are part of the teaching methodology.

Take-home individual assignment to be dispatched few days before the official date of the exam and brief oral review. Final grades will be discussed, approved and eventually uploaded the day of the session published by the registrar office. Assessment is based on analytical accurateness, correct application of notions learned, appropriate terminology and rigorous reasoning.

There are no specific requirements for the assignment of a master thesis in this course. Candidates are encouraged to come forward with their own proposals of topics and an additional list of arguments is available with the instructor.