Intellectual Property and Antitrust are complementary subjects that focus on issues critical to 21st-century society and global commerce. Intellectual property laws (patents, copyrights, and trademarks) create and protect important business and cultural assets; antitrust law, with its concern for monopoly power and restrictive trade practices, structure and control the way these assets are used. In addition, both areas of law are concerned with creating and protecting incentives for innovation and both areas utilize economic and political theory to analyze major policy issues. The law school has a deep curriculum in intellectual property and in antitrust, and students who seek to specialize in one of these areas are encouraged to take at least one course in the other.
Students interested in innovation issues should also consider taking courses in information law, including information privacy and electronic commerce. The study of information law considers the many ways in which the flow of information promotes innovation and the ways in which innovations in information technology affect broader societal interests, such as privacy and commerce.
Finally, the intellectual property and antitrust course offerings include courses and seminars focused on the international dimension of these two areas; students are encouraged to take one of these international courses to gain a full understanding of these two areas in the context of our globalized economy.
Find out more about Intellectual Property and Antitrust at NYU Law.