The programme aims to provide you with an in-depth and up-to-date knowledge of the general principles of copyright law, mainly focusing on the
law in the United Kingdom, the principles of United States copyright law and the major ‘copyright’ Directives of the European Union. The programme is delivered by distance learning with three intensiveresidential weekend seminars in London.
The UK, EU & US Copyright Law MA is only open to students who have successfully completed the UK, US & Copyright Law Postgraduate Diploma.
Material
The PG Diploma programme is structured into three modules of 13 units in total. Each unit comes in the form of hard copy print and as a pdf file via the programme website. Apart from units 2, 3 and 4; these units will be covered by a textbook that will be sent to you with your materials: T. Aplin and J. Davis, Intellectual Property Law 3rd ed (OUP, 2017). The units are designed to be largely self-contained, but recommended and further reading will be suggested. Some of the further reading suggestions may not be readily available online, either at King's library or elsewhere, so students may have to source recommended reading themselves.
A unit will comprise text, copies of relevant Regulations, Commission Decisions and Notices, Judgments of the General Court and the Court of Justice of the European Union. Practical examples, questions and model answers will test your knowledge as you progress. It is anticipated that each unit will require a student to spend approximately twenty hours' study plus further time for reading and completion of the assignments. Units are sent by air courier.
Alongside the paper based programme material students will also be able to view and download their material from a website specifically designed for their programme. This programme is designed as a traditional paper based distance learning course that is supported by additional online resources and facilities. Students are required to engage with the online platform during their studies. Units will be uploaded in a pdf format on their despatch date. The programme specific website also offers students the opportunity to interact with each other, post questions for the programme director and view any other information relevant to the course.
Support throughout your studies
Organisational and administrative support is readily available through the Distance Learning Organiser at Informa Connect and the Senior Programme Officer at King's College London. However this programme is designed and delivered in a format that requires the student to study independently. Although academic staff will be available via the programme website for student queries, they do not tutor on a one-to-one basis. Students who enter this programme need to be aware of the commitment required to study this challenging and rewarding programme. We also recommend that you have put arrangements in place to allocate sufficient time for studying alongside your professional and other commitments.
Seminars
There will be three intensive residential seminars held in central London. These will be held in November/ December 2020, in February 2021 and in March/April 2021. (The 2020 autumn seminar will be an online activity, format to be confirmed; the format of the 2021 spring seminars will be subject to social distancing measures).Authors and Tutors will revise study material and lecture for two full days. Seminars are recorded to view for those students who cannot attend the seminars. It is strongly recommended that students benefit from these intensive revision sessions.
Assessment
Students will be required to submit three 2000 word assignments in April the first year. Together these assignments constitute 45% of the final overall mark for the Postgraduate Diploma.
The three-hour written examination will take place during May 2020 either at King's College London or a different venue in London. Arrangements can be made to sit the exam at a venue in your country. This arrangement carries a fee by King's College London and the invigilating institution. Successful candidates will obtain the Postgraduate Diploma in UK, EU and US Copyright Law. Results are graded into Pass (50-59%), Merit (60-69%) and Distinction (70%+).
At the time of writing, May 2020, it is expected that the examination format will be a sit-down 3-hour examination, but the examination can take a different format if required by social distancing measures in 2021.
The follow-up MA is open to students who completed the Diploma. It involves the research for and writing of a 12000 -15000 dissertation under supervision. You are expected to spend at least 110 hours engaged in self-directed study. You are assessed exclusively by your dissertation which needs to be passed with 50%.