85089 - Intellectual Property Law (1) (LM)

Academic Year 2017/2018

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, students know and are able to apply: 1) the basic principles of Italian private Law; 2) the basic principles of Copyright Law and Intellectual Property Law; 3) the relevant domestic legislation.

Course contents

1. General principles of Private Law related to: - rights in rem; - contracts; - intellectual property rights.
2. Domestic legislation in the field of Copyright and Neighbouring Rights, with a specific focus on the impact of digital technologies and on multimedia and audiovisual works: - philosophical and economic foundations of copyright and neighbouring rights; - objects, content and subjects of the legal protection; - limits of copyright (idea/expression dichotomy, limited terms, exhaustion principle, exceptions and limitations).

Readings/Bibliography

For a first general introduction to Copyright Law the following handbook is suggested (please note that it could be downloaded free of charge from the following URL: http://amsacta.unibo.it/3018/):
1. G. Spedicato, Il diritto d'autore in ambito universitario, Milano, Simplicissimus Book Farm, 2011, pp. 3 - 81.

For an in-depth study of the topics on which the course more specifically deals with, the following book is suggested (please note that this must be studied integrally, with the only exception of the footnotes):
2. G. Spedicato, Bilanciamento e interesse pubblico nel diritto d'autore, Milano, Giuffrè, 2013.

The above mentioned book may be ordered at specialized law bookshops or online through the publisher's website (http://www.giuffre.it/it-IT/products/727410.html).

The study of the above mentioned texts must be integrated by an in-depth reading of the relevant provisions of the Italian Copyright Act.


Teaching methods

In-presence classes.
Due to the technical nature of the subject-matter and to the specific lexicon, frequency, despite not being mandatory, is strongly suggested.

Assessment methods

The assessment will be made through an oral exam which will be based on three/four questions. A written in itinere multiple-choice test, not compulsory awill be moreover available at about the end of the classes.
The oral exam and the in itinere test will be open to attending and non-attending students, as well as to students of previous years (in any case according to the contents and the recommended readings above indicated).
Students who will pass the in itinere test must also pass the oral exam (limited to one question in case of confirmation of the previous mark). Students who will not pass the written test or wish to improve the mark, must have anew the complete oral exam (three/four questions).

Teaching tools

In addition to the texts suggested in the "Text/Bibliography" section, relevant legal provisions must be considered a fundamental tool for the study of the subject-matter. More specifically, students must know the relevant provision of the Law 22 April 1941, no. 633, an updated version of which is available at the following website: www.normattiva.it.

Office hours

See the website of Giorgio Spedicato