Introduction to Intellectual Property Rights and Competition Law

Intellectual property rights are an important aspect of business and are intertwined with competition law. Intellectual property (IP) results from the application of someone's mind or intellect to create something new or original. If you want to run a successful business, you need to be proficient in applying IP rights and understanding competition law. In this course, you will learn the meaning of the term ‘abuse of dominance’ in competition law. You will also see how copyright provides free and automatic protection for an author's original expression of ideas.

The course also describes how copyright is used in protecting intellectual property like books and sound recordings. You will study several kinds of design and the efforts made to preserve the shape and outlook of a product to prevent intellectual design theft. You will also learn about how some top companies have used their trade secrets to become highly successful.

The course also explains how some companies abuse their dominance by engaging in market acts capable of eliminating their competitors. You will grapple with certain policies put in place by regulating organizations around the world to maintain competitiveness in a monopolistic market. You will also learn about the components of competition law and different types of market-based agreements.