Course Information
SemesterCourse Unit CodeCourse Unit TitleT+P+LCreditNumber of ECTS CreditsLast Updated Date
6POLS 364Public Policy on Intellectual Property Rights and New Technologies3+0+03528.07.2026
Course Details
Language of Instruction English
Level of Course Unit Bachelor's Degree
Department / Program Political Science and Public Administration (English)
Type of Program Formal Education
Type of Course Unit Elective
Course Delivery Method Face To Face
Objectives of the Course The aim of this course is to provide students with a solid understanding of the theoretical foundations and the political and economic dimensions of intellectual property rights (patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets); to develop the ability to analyze the public policy challenges raised by new technologies (artificial intelligence, biotechnology, digitalization); and to build the competence to critically evaluate national and global governance structures in the field of intellectual property rights.
Course Content The course covers the fundamental concepts, historical development, and theoretical approaches to intellectual property rights; the global governance of intellectual property within the framework of the TRIPS Agreement and the World Trade Organization; the role of private-sector actors and corporate lobbying in public policy-making processes; contemporary policy debates arising in the context of public health, biotechnology, digital piracy, and artificial intelligence; North-South political dynamics between developing and developed countries; and comparative national intellectual property policies with reference to the United States, the European Union, and Turkey.
Course Methods and Techniques
Prerequisites and co-requisities None
Course Coordinator None
Name of Lecturers None
Assistants None
Work Placement(s) No

Recommended or Required Reading
Resources

Course Category
Social Sciences %100

Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods
Activities are given in detail in the section of "Assessment Methods and Criteria" and "Workload Calculation"

Assessment Methods and Criteria
In-Term Studies Quantity Percentage
Mid-terms 1 % 30
Assignment 2 % 20
Final examination 1 % 50
Total
4
% 100

 
ECTS Allocated Based on Student Workload
Activities Quantity Duration Total Work Load
Course Duration 14 3 42
Hours for off-the-c.r.stud 2 21 42
Assignments 2 8 16
Presentation 1 10 10
Mid-terms 2 7 14
Final examination 1 14 14
Total Work Load   Number of ECTS Credits 4,6 138

 
Course Learning Outcomes: Upon the successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
NoLearning Outcomes
1 Analyze the fundamental concepts, theoretical approaches, and public policy processes related to intellectual property rights.
2 Evaluate the impact of new technologies (artificial intelligence, biotechnology, digitalization) on intellectual property policies.
3 Critically examine global governance structures in intellectual property rights (TRIPS, WIPO, WTO) and North-South political dynamics from a comparative perspective.

 
Weekly Detailed Course Contents
WeekTopicsStudy MaterialsMaterials
1 Course Introduction: Key Concepts in Intellectual Property Rights and Public Policy
2 Historical Evolution of Intellectual Property Rights and the Political Economy of Innovation Sell (2003), Ch. 2 "Structures, Agents, and Institutions"
3 Patents: Theoretical Foundations and Contemporary Policy Debates
4 Copyright Law and the Challenges Posed by Digital Technologies WIPO Intellectual Property Handbook, Ch. 2
5 Trademarks, Trade Secrets, and the Platform Economy
6 The Political Economy of Global IP Governance: TRIPS and the WTO Sell (2003), Ch. 3-4
7 Private Power and Public Policy-Making: Corporate Lobbying and Transnational Mobilization Sell (2003), Ch. 5
8 Midterm
9 Intellectual Property, Public Health, and Access to Medicines Sell (2003), Ch. 6
10 Biotechnology, Genetic Engineering, and Intellectual Property Policy Drahos & Braithwaite (2002),
11 Digital Piracy, File-Sharing, and Copyright Enforcement
12 Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, and Emerging Intellectual Property Challenges OECD, AI and Intellectual Property Policy (Report) Lecture Notes
13 Intellectual Property Rights, Developing Countries, and North-South Politics Sell (2003), Ch. 6-7
14 Global Governance Institutions: WIPO, the WTO, and International IP Regimes WIPO Intellectual Property Handbook, Ch. 1
15 Comparative National Policies: The United States, the European Union, and Turkey
16 Course Review and Future Directions in Intellectual Property and Technology Policy Lecture Notes Student Presentations

 
Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes
P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 P7 P8 P9 P10
All 5 3 5 4 3 2 3 4 3 5
C1 5 3 5 4 3 2 3 4 3 5
C2 4 4 5 3 3 3 3 5 4 5
C3 4 3 5 3 4 2 4 5 5 5

  Contribution: 1: Very Slight 2:Slight 3:Moderate 4:Significant 5:Very Significant