Free e-learning on the protection of intellectual property (IP) provides an introduction to patent, copyright, trademark and design law as well as trade secret law.
A quick course for basic knowledge in the field of intellectual property rights – available online and free of charge: With the IP driving license, PROvendis GmbH, in cooperation with the Institute for Information, Telecommunications and Media Law (ITM) at the University of Münster, is offering an e-learning course on intellectual property protection that is unique in Germany. Researchers, founders or employees from companies and start-ups learn in five modules how they can protect technical inventions, know-how, products, services or software. With the publication of the module on trademark law, the IP driving license is now complete.
Basic knowledge of property rights
Idea theft, counterfeiting and product piracy cause billions in economic damage every year. IP rights secure a unique position on the market and lead investments in research and development to success. The IP driving license provides an introduction to five central protection options for intellectual property (IP):
- Patent law
- Copyright
- Trademark law
- Design law
- Trade Secrets Act
“Raising awareness of IP rights has been our hobbyhorse for many years. However, the IP driving license not only conveys basic legal knowledge, but also many practical examples and everyday references from our experience to make initial contact with IP rights easier,” explains Heike Huisken, authorized signatory and in-house lawyer at PROvendis GmbH. The modules of the IP guide have been developed in cooperation between lawyers who have been working for PROvendis for many years and employees of the ITM at the University of Münster. The workload for each module is approximately 30 hours. Participants receive a certificate for each successfully completed module.
The IP driver’s license in university teaching
As a pilot university and close cooperation partner, the University of Münster has already been using the IP driving license in university teaching for four years. Students receive credits for successfully completing an IP driving license module. “For our students, working with the e-learning offer is a very accessible introduction to the topic of IP rights. The learning units provide a compact and very systematic introduction and allow students to learn at their own pace,” says Katarina Kühn, Patent Officer at the Research Transfer Office (AFO) at the University of Münster.
Free educational offer through NRW funding
The IP driver’s license is funded by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia as part of the innovation2business.nrw network. The funding body is the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection and Energy (MWIKE). The network of 27 North Rhine-Westphalian universities and PROvendis GmbH focuses on qualification and further training in the field of intellectual property rights.
Further information
E-learning IP driver’s license
Press contact PROvendis
Susanne Salwiczek, Tel.: 0208 94105 67, e-mail: presse@provendis.info
The innovation2business.nrw association
28 universities in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and PROvendis GmbH together form the innovation2business.nrw network. The Intellectual Property (IP) network of NRW universities promotes the professional transfer of knowledge and technology to business and society. The University of Münster is the commissioned university and, together with PROvendis, acts as the network coordinator. The network is funded by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, with the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection and Energy providing the funding.
PROvendis GmbH
PROvendis promotes technology transfer between science and industry and works for universities and companies in the field of IP management and IP marketing. PROvendis GmbH is the subsidiary of 28 universities and has been responsible as an IP service provider for over 30 universities and non-university research institutions since 2002.
