1. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY - 04 Credits

• I. Foundations of Research and Legal Research: Meaning, Nature and Objectives of Research; Research in Law; Scientific Method and Legal Inquiry; Doctrinal and Non-Doctrinal Research; Socio-Legal and Interdisciplinary Research; Research Ethics and Academic Integrity; Plagiarism and Research Misconduct; Role of Research in Innovation and Knowledge Economy
• II. Research Problem, Research Design and Literature Review: Identification of Research Problem; Selection and Delimitation; Formulation of Research Questions and Objectives; Variables and Assumptions; Research Design and Planning; Literature Review: Purpose and Methodology; Gap Identification
• III. Methods of Legal Research: Doctrinal Research - Statutory Analysis, Case Law Analysis, Historical and Comparative Methods, Comparative IPR Research; Empirical and Socio-Legal Research - Quantitative and Qualitative, Surveys, Interviews, Focus Groups, Observation, Case Study, Mixed Method
• IV. Data Collection, Analysis and Research Tools: Primary and Secondary Sources; Legal Databases; Sampling Techniques; Data Coding and Classification; Quantitative and Qualitative Data Analysis; Introduction to SPSS/Excel for Legal Research; Use of AI Tools in Legal Research

2. INTRODUCTION TO INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND LAW - 04 Credits

• Historical Evolution of IPR Protection
• Patent, Copyright, Trademark, Designs, GI, Plant Varieties, Biodiversity, Lay-out designs of ICs
• Philosophical & Theoretical Justifications - Natural Rights, Utilitarian theory, Personality theory, Social Planning theory
• International Protection - Paris Convention, Berne Convention, Lisbon & Madrid Agreement, TRIPS Agreement, CBD, WIPO Treaty, GRATK Treaty 2024

3. PATENT LAW I - 04 Credits

• Objectives of Patent Law; Meaning, Subject matter and Patentability criteria
• Procedure for Acquisition - Provisional & Complete Specification; Filing to Grant
• Pre-grant and post-grant oppositions; Rights and obligation of patentee
• Ownership and Assignment; Working of Patents- Compulsory licenses; Government use
• Infringement and remedies; Maintenance, restoration, surrender, revocation
• International Patent Systems - Convention and PCT Applications; Important case laws

4. LAW RELATING TO COPYRIGHT - 04 Credits

• Objectives of copyright protection; Meaning; Protectable subject matter; Originality
• Idea-Expression Dichotomy; Doctrine of Sweat of Brow; Doctrine of Modicum of Creativity
• Registration; Term; Authorship and Ownership; Economic Rights; Moral Rights
• Licensing and Assignment; Compulsory Licensing; Infringement and Remedies
• Exceptions; Offences; Technological Measures; Neighbouring Rights
• Copyright Societies; Copyright Office; Copyleft; Copyright in Internet Era

5. LAW RELATING TO TRADEMARKS - 04 Credits

• Objectives and functions; Types - Conventional and Non-Conventional Trademarks
• Concept of Distinctiveness; Registration; Registrability; Grounds for Refusal
• Term of Protection; Prior Use; Well-known Marks and Dilution
• Passing off and Infringement; Remedies; Exceptions; Cybersquatting
• Assignment and Transmission; Registered User; Rectification; International Registration
• Offences, Penalties and Procedures; Contemporary debates

6. IP LAW, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES - 04 Credits

• Copyright and AI: Copyrightability of AI-generated Content; Authorship; Ownership; Monkey Selfie Case, Bartz v. Anthropic, NYT vs OpenAI; Fair Use; Deepfakes
• Patents and AI: Who is an inventor? Novelty in AI era; Use of AI in Drug Development; DABUS cases
• Trademarks and AI: AI-generated Logos; Counterfeiting; Consumer Choice
• Trade Secrets and AI: Algorithm Blackbox; Evidentiary value

7. PATENT LAW II (SEMINAR COURSE) - 03 Credits

• Hands on Practical Training on Patent Law
• Conducting Prior Art searches; Patentability Report; Infringement Analysis
• Freedom to Operate Report; Drafting of Specifications; Filing of Patent Applications
• Responding to Examination Reports; Pre-grant and Post-grant Oppositions

8. GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS, PROTECTION OF PLANT VARIETIES AND TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE - 04 Credits

• GI: Historical Background; Procedure for Registration; Rights; Infringement; Assignment
• PPVFR Act: Farmer’s Rights, Breeder’s Rights; National Gene Fund; Registration Procedure
• Traditional Knowledge & Bio Diversity: Need for protection; International Regime; GRATK Treaty 2024; CBD; Nagoya Protocol

9. DESIGNS AND INTEGRATED CIRCUITS AND SEMICONDUCTORS (SEMINAR COURSE) - 03 Credits

• History and Objectives for Protection of Industrial Designs; Criteria for Registration
• Procedure; Cancellation; Overlapping of Design and Copyright; Piracy and Remedies
• Semiconductors, Integrated Circuits, and Layout designs - Registration, Procedure, Assignment

10. RESEARCH PROJECT - 06 Credits

Independent research project on contemporary issues in Intellectual Property Law under faculty supervision.