LAW-863 : Morality of Intellectual Property

In this seminar we will delve into the philosophical underpinnings of intellectual property law and examine moral conflicts and questions that arise in the context of granting, enforcing, and disallowing intellectual property rights and related intangible rights.  Sample topics include:  patent law impact on access to healthcare, farming, and food supply; privacy issues and ownership of rights relating to medical innovations derived from patient tissues; and the scope of moral rights granted under the Copyright Act.  Other topics selected by students for their required scholarly paper may be incorporated into the seminar by student-led discussions.  Readings will be drawn from selected cases, articles, and essays, in addition to the required text on scholarly writing for law students. Course performance is primarily measured by timely submission of milestone assignments and quality of final draft of scholarly paper.