Legal English -Technology and Intellectual Property Law / Negotiation Skills

Course details

Law Society Professional Training’s Legal English pision are offering a one-week course this year over the summer months: Legal English Course: Technology and Intellectual Property Law / Negotiation Skills, CPD Accreditation: Law Society of Ireland and Country Specific Bar Association Reciprocity

Aim and Objectives

Technology and intellectual property law is a thriving area of practice that brings with it a rare and interesting mix of work. As employees, consumers and indeed citizens, technology and intellectual property law affects us all on a daily basis. Equally, few businesses (large or small) can afford to ignore the shift in the way the world does business and its growing importance in every area of commercial life.

As one of the fastest growing areas of practice, knowledge of technology and intellectual property law is essential to internationalising the skills and expertise of legal professionals. The course is designed to equip participants with the necessary skills, knowledge and competencies to advise both their firm/employer and clients on the law relating to technology and intellectual property law and its consequential impact on day-to-day business.

Nobody doubts that negotiation skills are a critical skill in legal practice. Yet how many lawyers approach a negotiation from a well-developed frame of reference, have a defined strategy and are confident that they can respond appropriately to the tactics deployed by the other side? This course will fill this gap by offering expert analysis of the principles that underpin negotiations and provides a tried and tested model.

Course Content

Patents and Confidential Information

• Applying for patent protection in Ireland and the EU
• Overview of the rights conferred by ownership of a patent
• Revocation, renewal and infringement of patents
• Analysis of the law relating to the unauthorised use of information and concepts which do not benefit from patent protection

Trade Marks and Passing off

• Applying for a trade mark in Ireland
• Community trade marks
• The Madrid Protocol
• Revocation and acquiescence
• Remedies available for infringement
• Licensing trade marks
• Overview of the common law concept of passing off

Copyright

• Nature of copyright
• Works protected by copyright
• Rights of owner
• Relevance of WIPO agreements and EU developments

Applied Copyright

• Protection of databases under EU and Irish law
• Relationship between copyright and the database right
• Industrial design protection
• Distinction between a registered design and copyright

Ecommerce

• Overview of the legal rules concerning electronic communications, documents and contracts
• Overview of the rights and obligations of businesses and consumers with regards to online sales

IT Contracts

• Overview of the legal principles which underpin software licensing
• Key components of a software licence agreement.

Data Protection

• Analysis of the EC and Irish rules concerning data protection
• Managing the legal risks associated with data protection
• Monitoring email and internet use in the workplace
• The security and data protections issues relating to cloud computing

The Use of Social Media & Tablet Devices in the Work Place

• Analysis of the security risks and other issues arising out of issuing tablets/smart phones to employees and ‘Bring Your Own Device Policies’
• Managing the risks associated with the use of social media in the workplace including:

The use of social media in recruitment decisions;

• Ensuring staff use of social media is lawful; and
• Social media policies
• Website Owner and ISP Liability
• Sources of liability
• Practical steps that can be taken in terms of website design, terms of service etc.
• Special Rules applying to websites / ISPs

Negotiation Skills

• Negotiation defined
• Key concepts
• Strategy
• Negotiation and power
• Issues, interests and position
• Planning: questions for planning, limit, target and opening position
• Role play and analysis