While patent law generally applies to all kind of inventions its applicability to new technological areas, such as biotechnology and software, has proved challenging. Patentability of biotechnological inventions rise ethical concerns and patentability of software has been questioned on economic basis. Similarly, suitability of general principles of copyright law for software protection and more generally on digital environment has been debatable. The course discusses the flexibility of patent law and copyright law to address problems created by new protectable subject matters and new technological developments such as digitization. The course will also discuss licensing practices including open source licensing. Comparative law approach will be utilized in the course.
- Teacher: Dhanay Cadillo Chandler
- Teacher: Ulla-Maija Mylly