A. Thomson This is a survey topic in international trademark law and practice. The topic will cover various theories of trademark/trade name infringement and dilution, including defenses such as parody and fair use, and explore mechanisms of trademark protection globally, such as international treaties and int…
The emergence of global digital networks, such as the Internet, and digital technologies that enhance human abilities to access, store, manipulate, and transmit vast amounts of information has brought with it a host of new legal issues that lawyers preparing to practice in the 21st century will need…
This topic will consider various proposals to reform U.S. copyright law. This law is long, complex, incomprehensible in many respects, and lacking in normative heft. It is also the work product of 1950's era thinking and has proven to be brittle at times when one tries to apply it to situations that…
This topic will begin with a discussion of the purposes of copyright law, will proceed to investigate the subject matter of copyright protection, what criteria works must meet to be eligible, who owns copyright, what rights authors have to control (and not control) certain kinds of uses of their wor…
The topic concentrates on the notions of liberty and equality under the Constitution, often located in the Commerce Clause as well as the Fifth, Thirteenth, and Fourteenth Amendments. The aim of the topic is not limited to studying the Supreme Court's doctrinal assertions, but includes assessing the…
This topic explores the laws and industry practices relating to the development, protection and commercialization of software, databases and computers. The primary focus will be on two areas of law: intellectual property and contracts/licensing. We will also cover international and commercial issues…
The topic is designed to help you reflect on the practice of law, the nature of public interest law, and, more specifically, on your experience practicing technology law in the public interest. Some of our primary goals in the topic are to help you to learn how to learn from your clinical experience…
Some places in the world, like California, are a national and global leader in fashioning environmental law and policy. This topic focuses on the many facets of this leadership role: climate change, energy regulation and conservation; coastal protection;…
This is an advanced clinical topic for students and readers of this Legal Encyclopedia who have already taken the Samuelson Clinic in previous topics. The companion Samuelson Clinic topic is not required to take this topic. The Samuelson Law, Technology & Public Policy Clinic (SLTPPC) provides stude…
This topic will examine financial and business issues centering on legally enforceable intellectual property (IP) rights. We begin with an overview of the major types of IP -patents, copyrights, and trademarks- and then look at common decisions that …