Lecture - This course examines the law surrounding art and cultural heritage. The focus will be on copyright, cultural property, and cultural heritage laws. Students will have the opportunity to consider U.S.
Skills - This skills-based course introduces students to practical application of legal concepts in client counseling and drafting of effective business documents. Students will engage with each other in real-life problem solving, drafting, and textual analysis in the context of a multiple rounds of review and redlining. The emphasis is on dynamic commercial negotiations and expectations of lawyers common in the tech industry, but the core skills are transferrable to other areas of practice.
Discussion – 3 hours. This course surveys approaches to privacy regulation around the globe, including a comparison of regulatory frameworks and different policy solutions. The course also introduces the major international privacy regulatory and enforcement institutions. Core lecturing will focus on the European General Data Protection Regulation and how it compares with US law.
Seminar - 2 units. Trade tariffs, fecal water pollution, and migrant workers’ rights: these are all issues that have been in the news this year. A common thread: these issues all affect, and are affected by, aspects of our food system and the laws surrounding this system. This course explores the various legal structures surrounding the governance of our food system; we will cover environmental regulation (or lack thereof), food safety laws, trade laws, and labor laws. Indeed, the structure of our food system is especially in flux during this administration, given the upcoming passage o
Discussion - 3 hours. This course examines the ethical, legal, and social issues that arise from research on and use of biomedical technologies. The course introduces and critically evaluates the dominant principlist approach to Western bioethics. It uses interdisciplinary methods, including critical theory and science and technology studies to consider the role of law on issues arising from biotechnology and science-based knowledge systems that implicate social norms and personal values.
Discussion - 3 hours. We will thoroughly examine the law of copyright, including its application to literature, music, films, fashion, architecture, television, art, computer programs, and the Internet. Issues addressed include: what works are eligible for copyright protection, the copyright owner's rights, the term of protection, copyright ownership and transfer, infringement, and defenses to infringement.
Discussion - 3 hours. This course provides a broad survey of intellectual property law. Areas covered include trade secrets, patents, copyright, and trademark. We will examine legal doctrine as well as the theories and policies animating the intellectual property system. In exploring these topics, we will frequently consider the challenges posed by recent technological advances and Internet-based media distribution. No technical background is required.
Discussion - 2 hours. Intellectual property is increasingly a global phenomenon, as creators seek to distribute their work and inventions across borders, while consumers seek access to creative products and innovations, from books to life-saving medicines. The scope of intellectual property rights set out in international treaties and national laws affect innovation and creativity worldwide. Exceptions to intellectual property rights determine rights to critique and learn. At stake in the balance between rights and exceptions are access to medicines and to knowledge.
Discussion - 3 hours. This course covers all essential aspects of patent law, including: prosecution, post-grant proceedings, patentable subject matter, utility, enablement and description, novelty, statutory bars, nonobviousness, infringement, and remedies. Students will examine legal doctrine as well as the patent system's public policy objectives and theoretical foundations. This course is designed for both the non-patent specialist as well as the future patent attorney. No scientific background is required.
All King Hall externships have two components. Students perform substantive legal work at a field placement, and under the supervision of a faculty advisor, complete professional development assignments. See the externship website for more information. Students work with and under supervision of practitioners in a wide range of settings in the non-profit sector including advocacy groups, legal aid offices, and federal, state, county and city government offices.
