Type of course

This course is for the Master's Degree Program in Business Creation and Entrepreneurship only.

This course cannot be taken as a singular course.

Course content

The course gives an overview of intellectual property (IP) rights and their legal foundation, and how IP can be utilized commercially and strategically in a business.

The course is divided into three sections:

The first section gives a general overview of intellectual property rights (IPRs), the rights to employees inventions and the handling of IPR conflicts. The section emphasizes explaining how a management-oriented view differs from that of a judge, lawyer or patent agent.

The second section deals with strategies for choosing IPR protection and with IPR relationships with competitors and partners. Areas included are strategies for patent filing, copyright protection and protection of trademarks and designs. The section also deals with the usage of patent documentation for monitoring of technological, competitive and market developments.

The third section focuses on the commercialization of intellectual property rights.

Objectives of the course

The aim of the course is to provide students with a fundamental understanding of the critical role that intellectual property rights (patents, copyrights, trademark rights etc.) play in the commercialization process. These legal constructions will be understood in the context of the entrepreneur and the strategic manager of corporate activities. The course puts particular emphasis on how companies can use these strategically important assets to achieve a competitive advantage.

Students who have successfully completed the course should have achieved the following learning outcomes:

Knowledge and comprehension:

• Knowledge of how to obtain different types of intellectual properties (IP), such as patents, designs, trademarks and copyrights, and the ownership of such IP
• Knowledge of how to use different IP databases
• Knowledge of how to develop IP strategy for different types of companies
• Knowledge of commercialization of IP

Skills:

The course should prepare the student to:

• Perform a search for IP in order to identify prior art, competitors and legal obstacles
• Analyze the possibilities to obtain IP based on their own search results
• Discuss IP with inventors, investors and patent/trademark attorneys
• Develop an IP strategy for a company in order to commercialize the IP

Competence:

The student should independently be able to develop an IP strategy for a company and identify and analyse possible IP in the company. The student should reach a conclusion with respect to the best options for the company in order to achieve a competitive advantage based on the company IP

Language of instruction and examination

Teaching methods

Assessment

Students are evaluated through a portfolio of various exercises and a written examination in Tromsø.

There will not be arranged a re-sit exam for this course.

A graded scale of five marks from A to E for pass and F for fail.

Recommended reading/syllabus