Professor Lisa P. Ramsey

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Course Descriptions of My Classes

Note regarding the 2010-2011 academic year: I will be on sabbatical leave during the Fall 2010 and Spring 2011 academic year and thus will not be teaching any classes or supervising student comments during this time period. 
 
Intellectual Property Seminar: Current Issues in Intellectual Property

  
This advanced seminar is intended for students interested in cutting-edge intellectual property law.  Students will learn practical legal skills while we explore currently unresolved issues in copyright, patent, and trademark law.  Past seminars included topics such as intellectual property rights in virtual worlds, parody fair use of copyrighted works on YouTube, patent reform, and trademarks and free speech.  Students are required to write a research paper and present that paper to the class during the second half of the semester.  The grade will be based on the paper, presentation, and class participation; there is no final examination.  Prerequisite: Completion of an intellectual property survey course or at least one other intellectual property course (copyright, patent, or trademark).

     

Intellectual Property Survey

 

This course provides a broad overview of intellectual property law. After discussing the policies underlying the protection of intellectual property rights, we will cover trade secret, patent, copyright, and trademark law, and related doctrines such as the right of publicity. These topics will be examined with a focus on new technologies, but a science or technical background is not required. This course provides a foundation for advanced intellectual property courses and is also appropriate for students who seek only a general understanding of intellectual property law. The grade will be based on a final examination.

   

Trademark Law

 

This course provides an overview of trademark and unfair competition law.  We will discuss the purpose of these laws, the requirements for trademark protection, and the scope and enforcement of trademark rights.  Specifically, we will cover the concepts of distinctiveness, functionality, and use of a trademark; the procedural and substantive aspects of trademark registration; geographic limits on trademark rights; trademark infringement, dilution, cybersquatting, counterfeiting, false advertising, false endorsement, and the right of publicity; and defenses and remedies in trademark actions.  The grade will be based on a final examination. 

    

International Intellectual Property 

 

This course examines international protection of intellectual property. We will focus on international treaties, agreements, and dispute resolution systems relating to trademarks, patents, copyrights, and related rights. The course will also cover acquisition and enforcement of intellectual property rights in foreign markets. Prerequisite: Completion of an intellectual property survey course or at least one other intellectual property course (copyright, patent, or trademark). The grade will be based on a final examination.

Supervision of Student Comments for SDLR and ILJ
Each year I supervise up to three law student comments or notes for the San Diego Law Review and/or San Diego International Law Journal.  I agree to supervise students who have already found their topics on a first-come, first-served basis and I only supervise intellectual property or international intellectual property topics.  I recommend that students who want to write IP papers have prior work or classroom experience in the IP area, or take at least one IP class in the fall.  For the 2010-11 academic year I will be on sabbatical leave and thus I will not be supervising any papers until I return in fall 2011.