SEMINAR: ADVANCED TOPICS IN

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW

 

SPRING 2013

 

TOPIC SELECTION NEEDED BEFORE FIRST DAY OF CLASSES:

The topic needs to be an approved (by me) research topic, the kind a judge or law firm partner would assign, with a product that reports the authorities; not an essay on your views.

To do a quality job without emotional distress, you need to investigate your subject, and pull the key authorities, before the semester begins.

 

CLASS SESSIONS:

Will meet in t he classroom on Feb. 25, Mar. 25, and April 8. I will also schedule one-on-one meetings with you as your research progresses.

Further re. topics:

Easiest path: Choose a topic that is centered around a recent (past 5 years or so) case or statutory proposal of interest. You can then collect any prior statutory provisions involved, and cases in the area or some related area.

High-visibility cases, such as recent Supreme Court decisions, are generally not advisable: (1) They have already been written to death by other scholars; and (2) they impair you ability to get your paper published after the semester ends.

 

 

THE PAPER -- 4 NON-EXTENDABLE SUBMISSION DATES:

The graded paper is due in three equal parts, on Feb. 18 , Mar. 11, and Apr. 1. 25 points each. A final composite submission for 25 points is due April 29. No extensions can be allowed for any reason whatsoever, but earlier submissions are welcome.

Each of the first three submissions is by email attachment in Word. I prefer double spacing throughout, for convenience of editing. The length should be between approximately 12,000 and 15,000 words for text and notes combined.

I will send my comments on each submission, using the change-tracking feature in Word.

Blue Book format is needed for all cites. Discursive footnotes (i.e., longer than a mere parenthetical) will be most helpful to provide support for what you are saying in the text.

Here is a note on footnote writing style, especially how to avoid the overuse of parentheticals.

I will distribute samples of acceptable law review styles before the semester begins.