Patent and Trade Secrets Law (LAW332H1S)

At a Glance

Second Term
Credits
3
Hours
2

Enrolment

Maximum
35
33 JD
2 LLM/SJD/MSL/NDEGS/SJD U

Schedule

T: 4:10 - 6:00
Instructor(s): Donald Cameron, R. Scott MacKendrick

Patents and trade secrets protect commercially valuable inventions and information respectively. As the information age and biotechnology progresses, these legal monopolies and "know-how" have become increasingly important to commerce.

This course will examine: protectable subject matter (novelty, non-obviousness, secrecy and the problems with specific technologies such as computer software, business methods and biotechnology); the mechanisms used to obtain protection (nationally and internationally); maintenance, how to read (construe) and how to enforce (litigate) a patent; and licensing. The scope and overlap of patent and trade secret protection will also be studied.

Evaluation
Students have the option of doing either a final 2 hour sit-down examination, or 48-hour take-home, only available at the start time of the examination, to be signed out from and returned to the Records Office. Note: Students choosing the take-home option will not be permitted to reschedule other exams due to choosing this option.