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Queen Mary has a long history of excellence in research and scholarship in intellectual property, spanning 35 years through the creation of the dedicated research institute – Queen Mary Intellectual Property Research Institute (QMIPRI), part of the Centre for Commercial Law Studies (CCLS), based in Lincoln’s Inn Fields.

At the time of establishing CCLS, Sir Roy Goode and the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA) began what is now a well-established relationship with CCLS, in the education of trainee patent attorneys and those seeking to enter the profession. Similarly over the years, CCLS has worked closely with the Chartered Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys (CITMA). This training continues today with programmes for patent and trade mark professionals that are among the most respected in the UK, attracting scholars from all over the world. CIPA has been an important part of QMIPRI’s research life as well, making significant contributions to the IP Archive at Queen Mary, which is one of the finest intellectual property collections in Europe.

One year full-time, two years part-time.

Programme description

This MSc programme is aimed at those who recognise the increasingly important role of intellectual property in our modern economy. There is continued need for expertise in intellectual property law and management in industry, commerce and the innovative and creative industries, and the MSc gives graduates the opportunity to study intellectual property to a high level. The programme offers a professional stream (for science and technology graduates seeking to become patent and trade mark attorneys) and a business stream, available to graduates from all fields looking to expand their knowledge of the application and management of intellectual property.

Programme outline

All students in the Professional Stream are required to study the core modules: Fundamentals of Law and Professional Ethics; Designs and Copyright Law; The Law of Patents I & II; Trade Mark Law I & II; and a compulsory Study Project where students develop skills in project management, commercial and litigation practice.

Optional modules may include Law of Competition; Information Technology Law; Intellectual Property Transactions; Media Law; Law of Patents I; Trade Mark Law I; Intellectual Property in Food, Biotechnology and Agriculture; and Intellectual Property in the United States.

Assessment

• Three-hour, 15-minute papers for each full core option, for example Trade Mark Law I & II.
• Two-hour, 15-minute papers for each half option (if option is run).
• Study Project (one year, various submitted materials relevant to management of an intellectual property portfolio, equivalent to 15,000 words).
• Closed book examinations operate for all programmes.

Students are offered the chance to undertake additional special papers for those intending to be patent and/or trade mark attorneys (Professional Stream only). Those who opt to undertake these exams gain exemption from the CIPA and CITMA foundation level exams, and in line with the exemption criteria laid down by IPReg also gain a pass in the additional Certificate of Intellectual Property Law.

Entry requirements

Minimum lower second class honours degree or equivalent – any discipline for Business Stream; any subject area for Professional Stream. Students undertaking the professional stream wishing to undertake a career within the patents field would usually have a degree in science or engineering.

EUROPEAN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY INSTITUTES NETWORK (EIPIN)

Students will have the opportunity to apply for a place on the European Intellectual Property Institutes Network. The network comprises, besides the CCLS at Queen Mary, IP institutes offering postgraduate education in IP in Alicante, Maastricht, Munich and Strasbourg. Two conferences are organised annually, covering specific areas of current interest in IP and students may receive a certificate for submission of a report prepared jointly with students from partner institutions. EIPIN is led by the MSc Programme Director, Professor Guido Westkamp.