Intellectual property (IP) rights, like copyrights and patents, play a crucial role in the fields of science, technology, business and the arts. The need for expertise in intellectual property issues continues to increase in our fast-changing technological landscape.
Individuals well-versed in the minutiae of IP law are quickly becoming invaluable in the workplace, so studying a tailor-made IP LL.M. will set you apart when applying for a job.
The Munich Intellectual Property Law Center (MIPLC) combines the strengths of four esteemed institutions from two continents to offer a top-quality, one-year “Intellectual Property and Competition Law” LL.M. program which attracts students from all over the world.
The MIPLC’s premises are located right in the center of Munich, regularly ranked as one of Europe’s most liveable cities. Munich, also known as Europe’s Intellectual Property capital, is home to the European Patent Office, the German Patent and Trademark Office, and the German Federal Patent Court. What’s more, a large number of intellectual property law firms and an enormous variety of companies in industries heavily dependent upon intellectual property – including Siemens and BMW – make Munich a true IP hotspot.
The MIPLC is operated by four partners: The Max Planck Institute for Innovation and Competition; the University of Augsburg; the Technical University of Munich (TUM); and The George Washington University Law School in Washington, DC.
The “Intellectual Property and Competition Law” LL.M. program is renowned for its interdisciplinary approach and academic rigour. With more than 65 faculty members, the MIPLC has created a diverse and multifaceted program that’s highly specialized and very intensive. The program is fully accredited.
Students benefit from small class sizes and regular tutorial sessions. A typical LL.M. class comprises some 38 students from around 20 nations in Europe, North and South America, Africa and Asia.
This guarantees intensive interaction between students, professors and staff, as well as personalized support for all students. Courses are designed especially for the MIPLC IP program, with core modules and elective modules to suit all backgrounds, needs and interests.
The course is suitable not only for law graduates, but also for students from other academic backgrounds such as Engineering and the Sciences. The LL.M. program is taught entirely in English, and a knowledge of German is not a requirement for admission. This being said, living in Munich for one year might be the perfect opportunity to brush up on you German.
The IP LL.M. curriculum is multi-jurisdictional; you will cover civil law and common law traditions in multiple countries through the diverse array of modules you can choose. You will be discussing all aspects of IP from both the European and the US perspective, delving into all legal and economic implications.
The course also grants access to the Max Planck Institute’s IP library, encompassing more than 200,000 volumes, legal databases such as LexisNexis, Westlaw, and Juris and personalized support from the MIPLC Administrative Team.
The MIPLC has direct links to the international research community at the Max Planck Institute for Innovation and Competition. It conducts its own high-quality research and publishes its own book series.
IP LL.M. students also have the valuable chance to attend the MIPLC’s Lecture Series which invites renowned scholars and practitioners from all over the globe to give presentations on current issues of IP law. This means students are always up-to-date on IP’s most pressing issues.
For example, this year lectures have been given on Artificial Intelligence and Data Markets, Striking the Right Balance between the Benefits of Transparency and the Need for Confidentiality in Licensing and International Data Transfers and the Nexus Between Data Protection/Privacy & Trademark Law.
During the course, students take a variety of mandatory and elective courses on patent, trademark, design, copyright and competition law, earning a total of 60 ECTS credits as well as researching and writing a Master’s Thesis of 55-70 pages.
Great emphasis is placed on teaching the actual ropes and trades of the IP business, covering all aspects of IP through simulations, case-studies and internship opportunities. You will have the opportunity to visit the European Patent Office, participate in EIPIN Conferences and complete an optional two-month internship, all of which will prepare you for the next phase of your IP law career.
Employment opportunities are excellent for MIPLC graduates, attesting to the program’s high quality. Alumni have been hired in prestigious positions with renowned law firms, national and international patent offices, multinational corporations, IP courts and universities. Every year, a considerable number of LL.M. graduates embark on Ph.D. studies after completing the course.
More than 400 students have completed the LL.M. program since it began in 2003. These people now form the MIPLC Alumni Network; a close-knit, international circle of IP professionals, from which current LL.M. students greatly benefit.
Alumni are encouraged to interact with current students to share their expertise and help with career advice, also participating in MIPLC and Alumni events and contributing to the development of the Network and the MIPLC.
If you’re considering taking your studies of IP law further, the MIPLC should be at the forefront of your mind. With a tailor-made IP LL.M. program, a renowned faculty, prime location and close-knit alumni network, you’d be a fool to not consider it!
Click here to learn more about the MIPLC
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