Intellectual property law encompasses patents, copyrights, and trademarks as its core subjects, along with specialized bodies of law for designs, plants, and geographical indications, among other things. "Innovation law” is meant to deal broadly with IP issues and with related business law, employment law, technology law, trade law, and free speech law questions–among many others–for individuals, firms, and governments in the arts, entertainment, privacy and security, software and computer networks, life sciences, and technology development and commercialization. Today, Pitt Law is building on its distinguished tradition of scholarship and teaching in these disciplines.
The Intellectual Property and Innovation Law Concentration is designed to give students a focused introduction to these bodies of law and practice while getting a broad grounding in modern law practice. No scientific or technical background is required to pursue the Area of Concentration or practice law in any related field. However, students who wish to practice law as a patent prosecutor do need to have an engineering degree or other similar technical qualification.
Students may pursue this concentration by taking foundational courses in intellectual property law, 5-6 credits of electives, and 4-6 skills-based credits. These skills-based credits will equip students with the practical skills necessary to excel in their future careers.