Göttingen University
LL.M. in Intellectual Property and Information Technology Law

Göttingen, Germany

DEGREE TYPE

LLM

DURATION

1 year

LANGUAGES

English

PACE

Full time

APPLICATION DEADLINE

EARLIEST START DATE

STUDY FORMAT

On-Campus

Key Summary

About : The LL.M. in Intellectual Property and Information Technology Law focuses on the legal issues arising in the modern digital landscape. This program covers aspects of intellectual property, technology law, and their intersection, providing a comprehensive understanding of the current legal framework. Students will engage in in-depth analyses of case studies and emerging legal trends, preparing them to navigate complex legal challenges in these fields.

Career Outcomes : Graduates can pursue careers in various sectors, including law firms, corporate legal departments, government agencies, and non-profit organizations. Potential roles include IP attorney, technology policy advisor, and legal consultant specializing in intellectual property and information technology law.

The LL.M. in European and Transnational Intellectual Property and Information Technology Law (LIPIT) is a postgraduate program directed at providing an in-depth understanding of legal issues arising from the creation and use of literary or artistic works, mechanical or scientific inventions, digital information, and other intangible assets. It covers a wide variety of subjects, including copyright, patents, trademarks, telecommunications, electronic commerce, information security, and data protection.

Because it is more and more common for transactions with intellectual property and information technology products to transcend national boundaries, this LL.M. Program is conceived as distinctly international and comparative in nature. Solutions from various legal systems are often presented when examining modern problems of IP and IT law, and cases spreading over two or more countries are regularly discussed and analyzed. One consequence of such an approach is that this Program is suitable for lawyers and other professionals from different countries, rather than being limited to one particular jurisdiction.

Besides the Program's international character, strong emphasis is placed on establishing a direct link to practice. Many classes are taught by experienced attorneys and other practitioners. In lectures and seminars, legal issues are examined largely through analyzing real court cases, identifying concrete common problems, and searching for effective solutions to them. Through hands-on workshops and projects, newly acquired knowledge is further enhanced and developed into readily applicable practical skills.

Program Duration

Your studies at the LIPIT Program will normally take around one year (from October to September). During this time, you will have to obtain 60 ECTS credits, including 20 credits for the completion of a master's thesis. If your total post-secondary education lasted less than 4 years, you might be required to earn more credits in order to be awarded the LL.M. degree. In this case, our educational adviser will help you to work out an individual study plan that will allow you to earn the required credits without exceeding the normal Program duration.

The University of Göttingen is constantly ranked among the best German higher education institutions in various national and international university rankings. Since its foundation in 1737, it has provided excellent study and research opportunities to students and scholars from all over the world, including more than 40 Nobel Prize winners. Besides the instruction and guidance from prominent professors and other experts, Göttingen students benefit from access to first-class study facilities, for example, Göttingen State and University Library, which is one of the largest libraries in Germany, containing around 8 million items and provides access to numerous legal and other scholarly databases.

Göttingen University's Faculty of Law enjoys an excellent reputation for teaching, research, and professional development. Throughout the centuries of its existence, it has been renowned for advancing legal science and offering outstanding legal training by eminent jurists like Johann Stephan Pütter or Rudolf von Jhering. Consequently, Göttingen has always been a very attractive place for those wishing to study law, including some famous historical figures like Otto von Bismarck or Wilhelm von Humboldt.

A number of attractive features make studying law in Göttingen especially rewarding. For example, legal education here has a strong link to practice, offering classes not only by professors but also by practicing attorneys and other practitioners. In addition, many professors are also active outside the academia, for example as legal advisers, members of legislative commissions, or judges of the highest courts.

Another appealing aspect of Göttingen Law Faculty is its internationality. As well as hosting students from all over the world and providing numerous exchange opportunities, the Faculty also offers classes by visiting professors from other countries and is involved in continuous international cooperation through various dedicated bodies like the German-Chinese Legal Science Institute or the European Academy of Law and ICT.

Further advantages for law students in Göttingen derive from the wide variety of specialized institutes and other specialization clusters, which ensure that numerous legal subjects can be studied from multiple perspectives and in all their aspects. For example, the Institute of Business Law lets the students of IP and IT law benefit from the combined expertise of Professor Körber, a well-known expert on telecommunication law, competition law, and the law of search engines; Professor Spindler, the author of popular commentaries and monographs on e-commerce, electronic media, open source and other topics; Professor Wiebe, renowned for his works on ICT law, unfair competition, copyright and data protection; as well as other specialists in these and related areas. Professors Körber, Spindler, and Wiebe are also involved in numerous legal policy development activities in Germany, Europe, and beyond. These professors were actively engaged in establishing the LIPIT Program and currently, they make up its Academic Board.

In addition to lectures and seminars by well-known experts in their fields, students can take advantage of various conferences, workshops, and study trips organized or co-organized by the Faculty or individual professors. For example, students can participate in the yearly International Research Forum on Law and ICT/IP, Göttingen IT Law Forum, and the Summer School of European IP and ICT Law.

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