Intl & Comparative Copyright (LAW-698-001)
Schwartz, E.
Meets: 06:30 PM - 09:10 PM (M) - Room 440
Enrolled: 7 / Limit: 30
Notices
There are no prerequisites for this course. Students without a familiarity with U.S. copyright law will be provided extra background resources as needed. Questions may be addressed to ejs@msk.com.
Description
This is a course on basic international copyright law and principles: in short, how copyright material disseminated over the Internet is protected in each country (if at all). The course will cover multilateral agreements present and future, and other bilateral
copyright or trade agreements, that govern the treatment of U.S. works abroad, and "foreign" works in the United States. The course also has
an "advanced" domestic (U.S.) copyright law component keying on some U.S. law pertinent to "international" copyright law with an emphasis on "digital" (Internet) issues. The course is taught from a copyright practitioner's point of view - including an insider's look at litigation and transactional (business of film and music) matters. The course is intended for
students who might want to practice copyright law - as litigators, transactional attorneys, or policy makers, or for those merely interested in the subject matter (that is, the future of music, film, software, videogames, book publishing, etc.).
Assignments and Evaluations
The final exam will be “partial open book” -- that is, you may bring SR&T (Statutes Regulations & Treaties), which may be annotated with your own notes, plus you may bring a 5-page (maximum) course outline. No other material may be inserted into the book. The final exam will be based on the materials covered in the classroom and the assigned reading materials (even if not covered in class), unless otherwise noted. Class participation – in particular, any statutory or case presentations assigned to each student -- as well as attendance, will be used in calculating a student’s final grade. Consistent with school policy, class attendance is expected.
Eric Schwartz, http://www.msk.com/attorneys/Eric_Schwartz, has over 20 years of experience as a copyright attorney providing counseling on U.S. and foreign copyright laws - including rights, ownership and enforcement issues - relating to new technology rights and management matters and old media; transactional attorney on music and film production, software licensing, and all other manner of IP commercial transactions; expert witness; appellate and trial litigation strategist; counseling on Copyright Office practice. Expert on film and music archival and preservation (i.e., "back catalog") issues.
Textbooks and Other Materials
The textbook information on this page was provided by the instructor. Students should use this information when considering purchases from the AU Campus Store or other vendors. Students may check to determine if books are currently available for purchase online.
The text for statutory and treaty materials is: Selected Intellectual Property and Unfair Competition -- Statutes, Regulations & Treaties (2011 ed.), edited by Roger E. Schechter (SR&T).
First Class Readings
Excerpts from Gorman & Ginsburg: “Copyright: Cases and Materials” (8th ed.) pp. 1-12; 38-49 (“Overview of Copyright Law”) - at MyWCL.
Syllabus
Use your MyAU username and password to access the syllabus in the following format(s):
Adobe Acrobat (PDF)