Introduction to Intellectual Property Law & Policy

Course Grading Results

A breakdown and analysis of course grades (including the exam) is here [ pdf ].

For comparison purposes, you might be interested in the exam scores for the past three years:

        median    max     min
2005  53.8%  80.0%  33.8%
2006  53.8%  73.8%  26.2%
2007  52.8%  83.0%  28.3%

Essays Graded

I have sent essay scores (via email) to those students who did them.

If you think you should have received an essay score and did not, let me know right away.

Files for the Virtual Classes

In case you need them again (or need them in audio-only mp3 format), here are the files for the virtual classes:

Copyright 6 - Weblinking [ m4b ] (enhanced podcast, w/ slides, playable in iTunes/iPod)
Copyright 6 - Weblinking [ mp3 ] (audio-only, no slides)

Patent 6 - Relief [ m4b ] (enhanced podcast, w/ slides, playable in iTunes/iPod)
Patent 6 - Relief [ mp3 ] (audio-only, no slides)

Patent 6 wasn't really a virtual class - we had a real class that day - but due to the failure of the Law School recording server, I created a recording later because several students were out for the holidays that week.

Q&A Before the Exam

The exam is on Tuesday, May 1, 2007. I will make every effort to answer all questions posted to the blog prior to noon (12 PM) on Monday, April 30.

One complication is that I will be out of the country (in Salzburg, Austria, at a conference) from Friday night, April 27th. I believe I will have internet acess, but one never really knows about these things. Therefore, if you have questions, posting them by noon on Friday, April 27 will ensure that they get answered. Questions posted after noon on the 27th but before noon on the 30th will probably be answered (I will do my best), but I can't guarantee it. Questions posted after noon on the 30th will not be answered.

In any event, I hope that you will post any questions you have to the blog irrespective of my schedule. In past years, students have answered each others' questions (usually quite well, in fact). In that way, the blog discussion can become part of the studying process.

Review Session

The review session will be Wednesday, April 25, 2007 from 11:00 am to 12:00 noon in Gittis 2.

Again, it is optional. It will not be recorded.

Class 22 (Enhanced) Podcast

Because of the technical failure of the law school recording server last Wednesday afternoon (April 4), we were not able to save the class audio-recording. Because many students were away last week for holidays, this posed some difficulties for some students.

In response, I've created a podcast for class 22, much like the virtual class (Class 15). This file contains my narration synchronized to the slides of the class. It should be playable on iPods and other devices, as well as in iTunes. (Note that in newer iPods and iTunes, you can see the slides as well.)

You can get this file here.

Quick Announcements

[1] Today I have a faculty meeting that may run long (and I will not be able to leave). There is some (though slight) chance that class today (April 9) will be delayed or canceled. I will send an email to the class list just prior to class if this is the case, so watch your email.

[2] For reasons out of my control (apparently a server crashed at an inopportune moment), the audio from Wednesday, April 4 did not get recorded. I apologize.

[3] For Wednesday, April 11 (our last class meeting), we will be conducing a class exercise. The information is available on the Course Schedule.

Class 15 - Weblinking

I've completed the virtual class session (Class 15 - Weblinking) and posted it in two formats.

Click here for an mp4 (video) format, which plays the slides and the audio in many video players, such as Quicktime.

Click here for an m4b (audiobook) format, which will play in iTunes, on iPods -- note that on iTunes and recent iPods, the slides will be shown as well.

Virtual Class Delayed

My voice gave out as class ended on Wednesday, Feb. 28, so I was unable to record the virtual class recording in time for your Spring Break enjoyment.

I'll post it as soon as I return from my Tokyo travels. Until then, I've posted the slides for our next 'real' class on Monday, March 12.

Have a good break.

Assignments & Class Supplements

I've posted the assignments for almost all of the remaining classes in the course (except for the last class, which I want to leave open for a bit).

Also, since the balance of the class will rely more heavily on supplementary readings, I've compiled most of the readings (the pdf readings without copyright issues) into a single pdf file, posted here. (Note: this is a large file!) There are also single-file supplements for each of the remaining classes, where needed.

I've also sent the big file to the distribution center for printing; it should be available on the racks in hard copy sometime in the future.

Lunch

Some students have asked whether I do lunches or coffees with groups of students. The answer is yes. Get a group together and propose a datet/time by email. In general, I'm most likely to be available on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.

Clarification on Wiki & Essays

To repeat briefly what I noted in class, for various reasons we got started late with the Wiki this year, so it is not a required component of the course. I've left the link in case you want to play around with it or add content, but don't feel like you have to.

On the Essays: The essays should be related to IP in some way, and posted prior to the class session to which they most closely relate. This doesn't mean you have to address some specific topic we address in class -- indeed, it would be better if you didn't, or if you at least extended the topic of discussion somewhat. Note that as time passes, your available choices of topics are diminishing -- though still really quite broad. If you have a question about which class session your topic might relate to, let me know.

Again, remember that the Essays are optional.

Blogging Tips

The blog posts so far are terrific; I encourage everyone to join in - either with their own posts or in the comments.

A couple of quick tips for those new to this blogging system:

[1] Be sure to select "published" in the "status" menu, near the bottom of the page where you create/edit posts. Otherwise your post will be saved as unpublished, and not visible on the site.

[2] Be sure to choose a category (most posts will probably be in 'current events'). This makes it easier to search and filter posts.

Assignments for Next Week Posted

See the Schedule page.

Group Assignments Posted

The Group Assignments have been posted. See the Groups page for your assignment, and the Schedule page for which days you are on call.

Ben Franklin Inn of Court (Patent Law) Announcement

I've been asked to announce this event. Students are invited to attend. Note that Judge Linn from the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and Judge Schiller from the ED PA will be there to participate.

Program Reminder and RSVP Request
The Benjamin Franklin American Inn of Court

SUBJECT : Inn of Court program titled:
“The Role of ‘Due Care’ in Willfulness Determinations:
Mock Supreme Court Review of Underwater Devices
Under Current Knorr-Bremse Precedent”

WHEN: Tuesday, January 23, 2007, at 6:00 p.m.

WHERE: Robert Nix Federal Building and Courthouse
900 Market Street, Philadelphia
Courtroom 6 on the 2nd Floor
(please bring a photo ID for security)

RSVP: to Annie Caucci by telephone (610.407.0700), email: agcaucci@ratnerprestia.com, or facsimile (610.407.0701)

Additional details are provided on the attached Announcements.

Assignments for Classes 4 and 5 Posted

See the Schedule page for details.

Sample Essays

Get them here. [ PDF ]

Note that these essays were subject to a shorter length requirement than in effect this year, and that they include various html artifact errors as a result of translation from the blog to this document.

Audio/Podcast Available

The audio recordings for the class sessions are available, and can be subscribed to as a podcast. You can find the links in the Course Portal, by clicking here, or by using the link on the main menu.

Class 3 Assignment Posted

The assignment for Class 3 - Trademarks 1: The Fashion Industry has been posted on the Schedule page.

Welcome to Introduction to Intellectual Property

For class on on Monday, January 8th: No assignments. Just show up. We'll introduce the course.

A more detailed schedule and future assignments will be posted over the weekend.

Note that we'll be using the 4th edition of the textbook, not the 3rd edition as specified in the course portal. (Because of the confusion, I'll post assignments for both; but if you haven't purchased yet, get the 4th edition.)