Master of Laws (LL.M) (60 credits) in European Intellectual Property Law, 60 ECTS

As opposed to other areas of law Intellectual property (IP) law has always been considered as an international legal discipline. This is underlined by the gradual development of an European Union (EU) IP law. Today areas such as design rights, geographical quality indications, plant rights and trademarks form a part of the EU law, and so will patents from 2015. The European Union Court of Justice, whose judgments are binding in national law of the Member States, monitors the interpretation of the EU law.

IP law do not only affect politics and economics, but to a large extent also culture Internet and other forms of communication clearly demonstrates that IP as such recognizes no national borders. The considerable technological developments during the last decades have brought quite dramatic strains on the IP system as a whole, as well as on the various legal disciplines included. We have seen intense debates like: ‘patents on life?’, ‘patents precluding poor people from essential medicines’, ‘indigenous peoples’ fear of being robbed of their traditional properties’ and ‘copyright as a threat to the freedom of speech and the human right to education’. To obtain a balance between different and sometimes conflicting interests is crucial if the IP system should be able to bring economic and cultural development in the future. Therefore, more well educated IP lawyers are needed both for dealing with the international issues in this field and for efficient litigation between different parties.

The Program in European Intellectual Property Law at Stockholm University was set up in the year 2000 and encompasses a total of 60 higher educational credits (HEC) = 60 European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS), whereof 30 ECTS credits shall be a Master Thesis. The schedule with full day lectures and seminars in blocks makes commuting possible to a certain extent. All students must take the required Advanced IP course (15 ECTS) course. Thereafter, students are given the opportunity to specialize in areas of the IP system, such as industrial property or copyright law by choosing one of two courses offered. On a voluntary basis, also a moot court training and competition is offered.

All applicants must complete their application with the following: 1) Statement of Purpose; 2) CV; 3) Letters of recommendation; 4) Documented proficiency in English (TOEFL 575/250/90, or IELTS, 6.5 (no section below 5.5)).

For more information regarding admission and application: www.jurinst.su.se/english/education/courses-and-programmes/master-s-level