A14. Intellectual Property for the Rest of Us

One of the earliest parts of the U.S. Constitution established the nation’s interest in the promotion of science and invention by authorizing Congress “to promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries.” Since then, copyrights, patents, and trademarks have had a complex and contentious impact on science, technology, and the arts. This course will review the history, law, and use of patents, copyrights, and trademarks in the United States as seen from daily life in the digital age.

INSTRUCTOR: Karl Hakkarainen is a retired software engineer and IT professional. He has worked with copyrights, patents, and trademarks throughout his career. His legal studies include a course on copyright law through the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard Law School. Karl is not a lawyer.

NO REQUIRED BOOKS

READINGS FOR FIRST CLASS United States Copyright Office A Brief Introduction and History, Trademark Basics, Process for Obtaining a Utility Patent (available on Course Materials page on website)