Innovation Law

This is a course in Innovation Law focusing on relevant legal areas and legal constructions for technology-based innovations. The course is closely related to the courses Intellectual Property Law and Innovation (HRS101), Property Credit and Insolvency Law (HRS295) and Teoretisk affärsjuridik (HRS290).

Aim and purpose

The aim of the course is to provide theoretical knowledge and practical experience on how interaction between law and technology creates conditions for legal control and governance of technology-based innovations, including management of intellectual assets and property. The course focuses on teaching students how patents and other IPRs in combination with secrecy- and contractually-based control are means for (i) designing and managing the resource base of the innovation project or firm (ii) to manage claims and organizing innovation processes (iii) implementing value creation models for technological innovations. The course also focus on teaching students how legal frameworks for data protection, cyber security, medical devices, research ethics, procurement etc. are critical means for designing and monitoring sustainable legal compliance models for the development and utilization of technology-based innovations. Said capabilities are critical for lawyers, business leaders and other people in executive positions in order to facilitate strategic and sustainable decision making in technology-based business and operations.

Course structure, pedagogy and examination

The course contain lectures, seminars and group work. A large part of the course is carried out through group work where students are trained in specially designed innovation-based case studies to shed light on how the interplay between law and technology creates conditions for legal control of technology-based innovations and innovation processes. The teaching focus on roles, capabilities and norms in said simulated innovation environments The pedagogy of the course builds on an action-based role-play model, where students participate by working in simulated practical cases. The students mainly work with the objective to claim and assess legal control of innovations and intellectual assets, as well as designing, implementing and assessing legal based compliance models. The aim is to give students a holistic picture about the critical role of intellectual property rights and market regulations to develop, implement and manage technology-based innovations into sustainable value offerings. The students are examined through oral and written assignments, both individually and in groups. The examination activities collectively constitutes an examination portfolio. The student’s course grade is based on the total score in the examination portfolio.