Intellectual Property Law syllabus : Latest Updated Syllabus for syllabus

Updated on Nov 16, 2022 11:47 IST
Pragati Singh

Pragati SinghSenior Executive - Content

Intellectual Property (IP) denotes thework created out of human intellect. It includes inventions like drawings, paintings, music, designs and symbols relating to business. Intellectual Property can also be termed as “intangible” as it cannot be touched like any other product. The law relating to the protection of these creations is called Intellectual Property Law. In other words, the IP Law protects the rights of the owners, the authors, the songwriters and other inventors.

The growing skills and human intellect has highlighted the need for a well-drafted IP Law to secure and encourage the talent of the people. The Indian legal system provides protection to the rights of the inventors by Copyright, Patents, Trademarks and Geographical Identification.

Importance of Intellectual Property Law

The importance of IP Law lies in the contentment and welfare of the citizens. The IP Law ensures protection of the rights of the creators, which will not only encourage the skills of the citizens, but also promote businesses.

  • The IP Law protects the ideas of the entrepreneurs and checks that they are not copied by anyone in fraudulent way.
  • Copyright and Patent also add value to the creators' ideas and increase the market value of their goods and services.
  • The IP Law is helpful for small businesses and protects them from financial losses and fraud.
  • The IP Law covers the unique ideas and promotes international trade.

Important Facts about Intellectual Property Law

  •  Intellectual Property (IP) Law guards the rights of the people with Copyright, Patents, Trademarks, Geographical Identification and Trade Secrets.
  • The IP Laws that require registration include Patents, Trademarks, Domain Names and Designs. However, Copyright, Common Trademarks, Confidential Information and Unregistered Designs don’t require registration.
  • The Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) are territorial in nature and specific only within a region or a country. Separate registration is required for services to be served in another country.
  • Global forum World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) is working towards the promotion of the IPR. It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.
  • The IPR registration in India is a lengthy process with the filling of the application form, preliminary enquiry, publication in the IPR journal and completion of the registration process.
  • The Trademark registration in India recorded a rise of 13.5 per cent with over 4.5 lakh registrations in the past one year.
  • The students can pursue Law courses from a number of colleges by clearing entrance exams like LSAT, CLAT and AILET.
  • IPR promotes healthy competition and puts an impact on the economic growth of the country.

Detailed Syllabus of Master of Law (LLM) in Intellectual Property

 The students can take this course for specialised knowledge in the field of Intellectual Property (IP) Law. This course is divided into three parts and covers main topics relating to Copyright, Neighbouring Rights and Industrial Designs.

 PART-A COPYRIGHT 

TOPIC I – HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE LAW OF COPYRIGHT

Subject                                                                                                                 Details

History of copyright law in India

It informs students about the history of copyright in India. When it started and how it is transforming?

Berne Convention, Universal Copyright Convention, Rome Convention, TRIPS Agreement and Indian Copyright Law

It sheds light on India's membership in these IP Law conventions.

India Amendments to Copyright Act, 1957 – 1983, 1984, 1992, 1994, 1999 and 2012 amendments.

The Amendments that have been brought to the Copyright Act so far.

TOPIC II – CONCEPT OF COPYRIGHT

Subject 

Details

Idea-Expression Dichotomy

 

Copyright protection is applicable to expressions and not mere ideas. This subject informs students about the difference between idea and expression.

Doctrine of Labour, skill and effort

 

According to this principle, Labour is considered the property of the employer for extraction of work.

Doctrine of Sweat of Brow

 

Sweat of the brow is a doctrine related to copyright.

TOPIC III – SUBJECT MATTER OF COPYRIGHT

Protected Works- Meaning of Work (Sec. 2(y)) – Classes of work in which copyright subsists (Section 13)

                                       -----------

Original Work – Literary, Dramatic, Musical and Artistic Works

It talks about works related to literature, drama, music and other artworks.

Derivative Works – Cinematograph Film, Sound Recording

Students are made aware about the rights associated with films and sound recordings.

 

TOPIC IV – RIGHTS OF COPYRIGHT OWNER

Subject

Details

Economic Rights (Section 14)

 

It allows people or organisations to exclude others from the use of their creations.

Literary, Dramatic, Musical and Artistic Works

                    --------------

Right of Reproduction

This is another right granted to the Copyright holder under the Copyright Act.

Right of public communication

It includes freedom of having an opinion, expression, and media governance.

Right to make Adaptation of the Work

It is the right of owners to allow others to modify their work.

Right to make Translation

These rights can be sold by the person who holds the copyright in the original piece of work.

Right to Rental (for Computer Programs, Cinematograph Films, and Sound Recordings)

Right to sell or rent copies are provided to the owners of the computer programmers.

Right in Cinematograph Film

Understanding the rights related to cinematographic films.

Right of Paternity

It gives the copyright owner right of claiming the authorship of writing.

Right of Integrity

It prevents any kind of changes that are disrespectful to an author.

 

TOPIC V – OWNERSHIP OF COPYRIGHT

 

Concept of ‘author’ owners of right – original and first owner, secondary owner, Ownership of Copyright

It talks about ownership and its types.

Term of Copyright

Copyright ensures rights of the authors are maintained.

TOPIC VI – EXPLOITATION/TRANSFER OF COPYRIGHT

Various Methods of Exploitation of Copyright

In this, students are made aware of the various methods through which Copyright can be exploited.

Assignment of Copyright

Copyright is executed in writing between assignor and assignee and can be recorded with the Directorate General of Intellectual Property (DGIP).

Licensing of Copyright

It is a contract that permits organisations to use their Copyrighted services in different ways.

Voluntary Licenses

These are agreements that allow few rights to any invention having Patent.

 

TOPIC VII – INFRINGEMENT OF COPYRIGHT AND EXCEPTIONS TO COPYRIGHT

Subject

Details

Infringement of Copyright

This includes Violation of Copyright.

Primary Infringement

It is a direct infringement or violation by the defendant.

Secondary Infringement

It involves another person infringing any copyright.

Exceptions to Copyrights

Copyright Act includes a number of exceptions for various purposes.

TOPIC VIII – REMEDIES FOR INFRINGEMENT OF COPYRIGHT

Civil and Criminal Remedies

 

Talks about injustices, damages, fines and imprisonment.

Administrative Remedies – Role of Copyright Board

Copyright Board has direct jurisdiction in some matters.

Criminal Remedies for Circumvention of Technological Measures and Right Management Information.

                 ---------

 

PART-B

 (NEIGHBORING RIGHTS/RELATED RIGHTS)

 Subject

 Details

Introduction to Neighboring Rights/ Related Rights in General – Performers’ Rights.

These are exclusive rights for the producers and broadcasters.

Performers’ Rights (Section 38) – Meaning of “Performer” and “Performance”

It entitles the rights of a performer to a person who is doing any performance.

Rights of Broadcasting Organisations

It is related to the rights of broadcasting organisations.

Rome Convention and TRIPS Agreement on neighbouring rights

The TRIPS agreement contains provisions relating to IPR.

 

PART C

INDUSTRIAL DESIGNS – DESIGNS ACT, 2000

Introduction and Historical Background of Designs Law in India

It includes a history of designs and how the registered designs are protected.

Meaning of “Design”, “Article”, “Copyright” and other Terms (Section 2)

This aware students about various sections pertaining to Deigns, Articles and Copyright.

Classification of Goods for Registration of Designs

The goods are classified for the registration of the designs.

Inter-face between Copyright and Design

This teaches students about the overlap between copyright and design patent.

Procedure for Registration of Design

In this, the whole procedure of registration of design is explained.

Cancellation for Registration of Design

The course also covers the cancellation of registered designs.

Specialisations in Intellectual Property (IP) Law

Intellectual Property (IP) Law is gaining importance with the advancement in technology. World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), an international and specialised body, lays down the legal framework of Intellectual Property Rights. The WIPO acts towards providing protection to the rights of the people. The students can pursue LLB, LLM, Diploma and Certificate courses for specialisation. The table below can help you in getting an idea about the types of IP Law courses in India.

 Specialised Course

 Details

Patent Law

Patent is the right possessed by the owner for an invention. In this, the owner decides about sharing  his exclusive rights.

Copyrights

The rights of the owner or creator on his/her art come under this category. It includes work done in the field of Books, Music, Paintings, Drawings and Advertisements.

 

Trademarks

It is the mark that distinguishes the product of one company from another and gives it a separate identity.

 

Industrial Designs

Industrial Designs refer to the process through which products are manufactured on a large scale with similar features.

 

Geographical Indications

 

It is the importance of geographical place attached to any particular product.

Popular Books and Authors for IP Law

A number of books on Intellectual Property (IP) Law are available in the market, but here is a list of some popular books on the topic. The students can enhance their knowledge and clear concepts on IP and related terms after reading these books:

                  Books

Authors

                Details

Intellectual Property Law

Lionel Bently and Brad Sherman

Aware readers about the Intellectual Property Law and provide detailed knowledge on copyright, trademark and patents.

Examples and Explanations: Intellectual Property

 

Stephen M. McJohn

The reader can clear their basic concepts related to Intellectual Property Law after going through this book. The author has explained all the terms with examples and illustrations making it easier.

Law of Patents

Elizabeth Verkey

It is one of the popular books on Patent Law – a branch of IP Law.

Intellectual Property Handbook

C S Lal

Understanding all about copyright, trademarks, industrial designs and geographical indications.

WIPO Guide to Using Patent Information

World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO)

It helps readers to search for technology information with Patent documents.

 Entrance Exams for Intellectual Property Law

The students, who wish to get admission in Intellectual Property (IP) Law colleges, need to appear in any of the below-mentioned examinations. Their seat confirmation and selection of the college depending on the score of these entrance exams.

  • All India Bar Exam (AIBE)-This test is conducted by the Bar Council of India to check the student’s awareness in the field of Law.
  • Law School Admission Test (LSAT)-It is designed to check a student’s skills and preparation on Law topics.
  • Common-Law Admission Test (CLAT)-This is a national-level examination for admission in various Law courses.
  • All India Law Entrance Test (AILET)-It is another national-level entrance exam held by National Law University (NLU), Delhi. It allows entry to students in various undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD programmes.
  • Andhra Pradesh Law Common Entrance Test (AP LAWCET)- It is a state-level examination held by Krishnadevaraya University for admission to both government and private law colleges in Andhra Pradesh.
  • Telangana State Law Common Entrance Test (TS LAWCET)-It is a state-level examination conducted by Osmania University once in a year to ensure admission to students in the state.
  • Maharashtra Common Entrance Test (MH CET)-It is also a state-level exam held by State Common Entrance Test Cell in Mumbai. The students who score good in the exam get admission to BTech, BPharm and Pharm D in Maharashtra.

Distance Programme in Intellectual Property (IP) Law

 The students can also pursue their course from distance education programme in a more convenient way and as per their suitability. Here is a list of 10 colleges offering distance courses in IP Law:

  • Bangalore Law University
  • National Law School Of India University, Bangalore
  • Motilal Nehru Institute, Allahabad University
  • Annamalai University,Tamil Nadu
  • Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai
  • Pune University
  • ICFAI University New Delhi
  •   Directorate Of Distance Education
  • The Government Law College Mumbai
  • Calicut University

Top Colleges for Intellectual Property (IP) Law Course

The students interested in joining this law field can pursue professional degree courses from the below-mentioned colleges:

Institute/College/University

Syllabus PDFs

NLSIU, Bangalore

To be uploaded soon

Symbiosis Law School, Pune

To be uploaded soon

Nalsar University of Law, Hyderabad

To be uploaded soon

NLU, Kolkata

To be uploaded soon

Rajiv Gandhi School of IP Law, IIT Kharagpur

To be uploaded soon

Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar

To be uploaded soon

Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh

To be uploaded soon

NLIU, Bhopal

To be uploaded soon

NLU, Lucknow

To be uploaded soon

Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi

To be uploaded soon

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Intellectual Property (IP) Law Syllabus

What is Intellectual Property (IP) Law?

Intellectual Property (IP) Law refers to the protection of the rights of the people, who have developed or created something, out of their intellect or talent. It ensures their rights of getting finances are secured.

Q. What are the different types of Intellectual Property (IP) Law?

A. The different types of Intellectual Property include Copyright, Trademark, Patent, Geographical Indications and Trade secrets. 

Q. Which are the courses in Intellectual Property (IP) Law?

A. A number of Colleges and Universities are offering undergraduate courses, postgraduate courses, diploma and certification courses in Intellectual Property (IP) Law. Some of the popular diploma courses include PG Diploma in Intellectual Property Rights, PG Diploma in Intellectual Property Rights and Labour Laws and Certificate in Intellectual Property Rights.

Q. Can a student pursue certificate course in Intellectual Property (IP) Law?

A.  Yes, students that have passed out standard 12th in any stream with 50 per cent aggregate marks from any recognized board are eligible for admission to certificate courses.

Q. What are the subjects taught in Intellectual Property (IP) Law?

 A. The main subjects taught in Intellectual Property (IP) Law courses are Copyright Law, Law of Patent, Law of Trademark and Law of Patents and Designs. 

Q. What is the fee structure of Intellectual Property (IP) Law courses?

A. The fees of Intellectual Property (IP) Law courses vary from INR 20,000 to INR 5 lakh.

Q. What is the eligibility criteria for admission to Intellectual Property (IP) Law colleges?

A. Students get admission either on the basis of marks obtained in standard 12th , which should not be less than 50 per aggregate, or on the basis of scores in entrance exams.

Q. What are the job profiles after completing Intellectual Property (IP) Law courses?

A. The students can hold the positions of Private Attorney, Trademark Attorney, Copyright Attorney, Legal Officer, Portfolio Manager and Contracts Negotiation Manager.

Q. Is the scope of Intellectual Property (IP) Law bright?

A. Yes, Intellectual Property (IP) is of great value to people as it ensures the protection of their rights and secures their talent.

Q. What is Copyright in Intellectual Property (IP)?

A. Copyright is the right of copying which only the owner can transfer or share with anyone.

Q. Which are the entrance exams for admissions in Intellectual Property (IP) courses?

A. Students can appear in entrance examinations like AIBE, CLAT, BHU UET, DU LLB entrance exam, MHCET Law, AILET, KLEE and LSAT India to seek admissions in Intellectual Property (IP) Law courses.  

Popular Exams

Following are the top exams for Intellectual Property Law. Students interested in pursuing a career on Intellectual Property Law, generally take these important exams.You can also download the exam guide to get more insights.

28 Dec ' 24

AIBE 19 Answer Key Date

22 Dec ' 24

AIBE 19 exam date 2024

To Be Notified:

CLAT Second Allotment List 2025

To Be Notified:

CLAT Second Allotment List 2025 Fee Payment

Jun '24

CT SET 2024 Counselling Start

TENTATIVE

Jun '24

CT SET 2024 Result

TENTATIVE

27 Dec ' 24 - 27 Jan ' 25

MH CET Law 2025 Application (for 3-year LLB)

3 Jan ' 25 - 3 Feb ' 25

MH CET Law 2025 Application (for 5-year LLB)

Popular Intellectual Property Law Colleges in India

Following are the most popular Intellectual Property Law Colleges in India. Learn more about these Intellectual Property Law colleges (Courses, Reviews, Answers & more) by downloading the Brochure.
42.3 K

#1 NIRF

1.98 L
5.2 LPA

#5 NIRF

65 K
7 LPA

#3 NIRF

#4 NIRF

2 Courses
25 K - 1.2 L
6 LPA

#8 NIRF

3 Courses
70 K - 1.4 L
5.15 - 6.75 LPA

#17 NIRF

Popular Private Intellectual Property Law Colleges in India

99 K
5 Courses
2.79 L - 21.19 L
4.5 LPA

#21 NIRF

Intellectual Property Law Applications open till Jan 21, 2025. Apply Now

3 Courses
13.5 L
2.75 - 3.73 LPA

Top 10 in Gujarat

1.5 L

Intellectual Property Law Applications open. Apply Now

1.68 L

#63 India Today

3 Courses
2.79 L - 14.04 L
4.5 LPA

Intellectual Property Law Applications open till Jan 21, 2025. Apply Now

Popular Intellectual Property Law UG Courses

Following are the most popular Intellectual Property Law UG Courses . You can explore the top Colleges offering these UG Courses by clicking the links below.

UG Courses

Popular Intellectual Property Law PG Courses

Following are the most popular Intellectual Property Law PG Courses . You can explore the top Colleges offering these PG Courses by clicking the links below.

PG Courses

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Student Forum

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Write here...

Answered 4 weeks ago

Hi, yes you can surely pursue Intellectual Property Law in India without any entrance exam. You can refer below for some of them:

College NameTuition Fee
School of Law UPESINR 12.73 lakh
UPESINR 12.73 lakh
ITM UniversityINR 4.16 lakh
Raffles UniversityINR 5 lakh
Maharaja Bir Bikram UniversityINR 12,000

Hope this solved your question!

A

Aneena Abraham

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 4 weeks ago

Hi, listed below are the top Intellectual Property Law colleges in India that offer certificate courses:

College NameTuition FeeEligibility / Exams
RMLNLUINR 2,000Merit-Based
CSJMINR 12,000Merit-Based
Vivekanand Education Society's College of LawINR 8,000Merit-Based
Maa Vaishno Devi Educational Law CollegeINR 10,000Merit-Based
UDEMYINR 1,300Merit-Based

Hope this solved your query!

A

Aneena Abraham

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 4 weeks ago

Hi, listed below are the top Diploma courses offering Intellectual Property Law colleges in India:

College NameTuition FeeEligibility / Exams
NLSIU BangaloreINR 42,300Merit-Based
GNLUINR 15,000Merit-Based
RMLNLUINR 15,000Merit-Based
Maharashtra National Law UniversityINR 25,000Merit-Based
ILIINR 28,000Merit-Based

Hope this helps!

A

Aneena Abraham

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 4 weeks ago

Hi, you can refer below for thetop course levels offered by top Intellectual Property Law colleges in India:

Course LevelsNo. of Colleges
LLM70+
BBA LLB5
BA LLB Hons4
LLB4
PhD3
BA LLB3
BBA LLB (Hons)3
MSc2

Hope this answered your question!

A

Aneena Abraham

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 4 weeks ago

Hi, listed below are the top Intellectual Property Law colleges in India according to NIRF ranking 2024 under the Law category:

College Name

NIRF 2022

NIRF 2023

NIRF 2024

NLSIU Ranking

1

1

Nalsar University of Law Ranking

4

3

3

SIMTS Ranking

5

4

4

SLS Ranking

3

6

5

IIT Kharagpur Ranking

6

9

7

Gujarat NLU Ranking

8

7

8

AMU Ranking

12

14

12

SIMTS Ranking

14

11

13

Christ University Bangalore Ranking

16

13

15

Disclaimer: This information is sourced from official website of the ranking body listed and may vary.

A

Aneena Abraham

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 4 weeks ago

Hi, National Law School of India University Bangalore is the top Intellectual Property Law college in India according to NIRF ranking 2024 under the Law category.

A

Aneena Abraham

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 4 weeks ago

Hi, there are around 150+ best Intellectual Property Law colleges in India of which 80+ colleges are owned privately,  40+ are owned by the government and 1 is owned by semi government institutions. CLAT, CUET PG and CUET are the top entrance exams for admission to best Intellectual Property Law col

...more

A

Aneena Abraham

Contributor-Level 10

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