B1659 - Copyright Law (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student knows the main legal principles - as well as the fundamental international and EU provisions - on copyright law and related rights, with specific regard to the exploitation of copyrighted works the digital environment.

Course contents

The course provides an introduction to the main principles and rules of European and international copyright law, while also examining some of the challenges posed by technological development and the digital environment.

The course is divided into two modules. The first module focuses on the general framework of copyright protection. It covers, in particular, the subject matter and requirements of protection, authorship and ownership, economic and moral rights, the duration of protection, the transfer and licensing of rights, and the main exceptions and limitations. Particular attention will be paid to the interaction between national copyright systems, European Union law and the principal international conventions.

The second module addresses selected issues concerning the application of copyright law to new technologies. Depending on the development of legislation, case law and current academic debate, the topics examined may include the protection of software and databases, online uses of copyrighted works, the liability of digital platforms and service providers, technological protection measures, text and data mining, and the relationship between copyright and artificial intelligence.

Throughout the course, students will be encouraged to consider copyright law not only as a body of technical rules, but also as a legal framework aimed at balancing the interests of authors, creative industries, users and the public. The analysis will be supported by reference to relevant European and international legislation and case law.

Readings/Bibliography

For students who do not attend classes, the study of the following book is mandatory:

• P. GOLDSTEIN and B. HUGENHOLTZ, International Copyright: Principles, Law, and Practice, 4th edition, Oxford University Press, 2019, Chapters 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11.

For students attending classes, the relevant readings and other course materials will be indicated by the instructor during the course and subsequently made available on “Virtuale”, the University of Bologna’s institutional e-learning platform.

Teaching methods

The course is taught through a series of lectures in which the instructor will explain the fundamental legal principles of copyright law, drawing on examples and practical cases. Relevant legislation and case law will also be examined and discussed with the students.

Due to the technical nature of the subject matter and the specialised legal terminology involved, attendance, although not mandatory, is strongly recommended.

Assessment methods

For both attending and non-attending students, the examination is written and consists of 18 multiple-choice questions and 2 open-ended questions.

At the beginning of the examination, students must inform the teacher whether they wish to be examined on the program (see above sec. Reading/Bibliography) for attending students or on the program for non-attending students. The examination questions will be assigned accordingly.

Each correct answer to a multiple-choice question is awarded 1 point. Incorrect or unanswered questions receive 0 points.

Each open-ended question is awarded from 0 to 6 points, according to the following criteria:

• 0–1 points: no answer, or an entirely incorrect, irrelevant, seriously insufficient, or fragmentary answer;
• 2–3 points: partial or merely sufficient knowledge of the relevant topics, with errors or omissions, limited reasoning ability, and some difficulties in the use of technical and legal language;
• 4–5 points: good or comprehensive knowledge of the relevant topics, adequate or notable reasoning ability, and sound command of technical and legal language;
• 6 points: extensive and in-depth knowledge of the relevant topics, very good reasoning ability, full command of technical and legal language, and the ability to establish appropriate connections between different topics.

The maximum overall score is 30 points. The examination is passed if the student obtains an overall score of at least 18/30 and a total score of at least 6/12 in the two open-ended questions.

Honours (laude) may be awarded to students who obtain the maximum overall score of 30/30 and whose answers to the open-ended questions demonstrate exceptional depth of knowledge, outstanding critical and analytical ability, particularly well-founded reasoning, and complete mastery of technical and legal language.

Teaching tools

Students with disabilities or specific learning disorders (DSA) who require reasonable accommodations or compensatory measures are invited to inform the instructor of their needs. They will then be directed to the relevant University services in order to identify and arrange the most appropriate support measures.

Office hours

See the website of Giorgio Spedicato