To review the global nature of intellectual property regimes and the regulatory mechanisms; to describe each of the rights encompassed by the term intellectual property;
to consider the main legal elements pertinent to each right;
to review the operation of intellectual property regimes through specific global industries, eg:
pharmaceuticals,
media, and
information technology;
to place this study within the broader setting of economic policy and commercial applications;
to consider the impact of new technology on these rights.