LAW - 646 International and Comparative Trademark Law

(3 hrs.)

Focuses on the international system regulating the protection of trademark rights. Introduces students to the principal international conventions in the field of trademarks and some bilateral treaties. The course will consider current problems in the international trademark arena in light of recent tendencies towards greater reciprocity; the emergence of new jurisdictional issues raised by the Internet; and such new rights as the right of publicity, anti-dilution, and appellations of origin. It will briefly consider comparative trademark law in terms of the differences in the registration process and problems in priority of rights and pay particular attention to trademark law in the European Union and efforts toward harmonization. Prerequisite: U.S. Trademark Law (LAW-609) or IP in Cyberspace (LAW-667A) or Intellectual Property Law (LAW-670) or Unfair Trade Law (LAW-689) or permission of the instructor.