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  6. CS5584: Commercial and Contractual Issues in the Software Sector (Distance Learning)

CS5584: COMMERCIAL AND CONTRACTUAL ISSUES IN THE SOFTWARE SECTOR (DISTANCE LEARNING) (2015-2016)

Last modified: 25 Mar 2016 11:38


Course Overview

This module provides an introduction to a number of legal issues relevant to software development and exploitation. It aims to increase students' awareness of commercial and legal issues relevant to their own work in the context of the wider software industry sector.The module thus focuses on legal topics relevant to those establishing their own business, including types of business and the fundamentals of contract law, also covering legal issues specific to software, such as the application of intellectual property law to software products. Students are expected to participate in the weekly discussions on the module’s MyAberdeen discussion board.



Course Details

Study Type Postgraduate Level 5
Term Second Term Credit Points 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits)
Campus None. Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Dr Ernesto Compatangelo

Qualification Prerequisites

None.

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

  • Computing Science (CS) (Studied)
  • Any Postgraduate Programme (Studied)

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

None.

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

The course covers specific business and legal concepts currently used in the software sector to devise commercial contracts, licences, and development agreements. As such, it provides a thorough and wide introduction to the matter, allowing students to understand the wider commercial and legal regulatory framework that underpins legally binding agreements in the ICT area. Introduction to commercial issues in the software sector: Cluster development theory; The competitive edge in industrialised countries; Analysis of the IT sector, its structure, its contributing components, its future challenges; Hi-tech IT and software businesses; Corporate strategy and Business strategy. Contract issues: Legal form underpinning business transactions; Avoiding legal uncertainty; Key elements of contract ; Duty of care; Contractual and delictual liability; Specific issues involving IT, Computers and IP Rights; Specific issues in e-contract; Licensing; Liability for information content. Trademark, domain, and data protection: How to protect trademarks; How to protect domain names under trademark law; Copyright protection of data repositories; Database rights; Is protection of databases anti-competitive? Patenting vs copyrighting in the IT sector: Patenting innovation; Copyright protection for computer software.

Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 30 August 2024 for 1st term courses and 20 December 2024 for 2nd term courses.

Summative Assessments

1 two-hour written examination (60%); continuous assessment (40%).

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Feedback

None.

Course Learning Outcomes

None.
 

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