Course Level

intermediate - advanced / 3rd - 4th year

Course Language

English

Course Classification

This is a Themis course. It is also open to non-Themis students.

Teaching Mode

Online course with self-study chapters, with a live meeting on campus and quizzes.

Contact Hours

Apart from the live meeting on campus, students will not have to be online during regular course hours. All content will be available at any time.

Class Schedule

Students work through course materials and submit a number of quizzes throughout the semester on a weekly basis. You will be able to study independently at your own pace most of the time.

The on-campus live session will take place on 3rd December 2025 in Room 102A on the 1st floor of Van't-Hoff-Straße 6 (Mensa Shokudo). More information is punlished in our electronic course catalogue.

Class Materials

Based on case studies focused on generative artificial intelligence (Al), Prof. Dr. Determann’s course explores laws, industry practices, and policy considerations relating to the development, protection, and commercialization of software, computers, and information technology services. You will work through course materials and submit a number of quizzes throughout the semester on a weekly basis.

ECTS-credits

5 (if exam has been passed)

Frequency

This course will be held at irregular intervals. It will be available in the winter term 2025/26.

Course Content

Based on case studies focused on generative artificial intelligence (AI), this course explores laws, industry practices, and policy considerations relating to the development, protection, and commercialization of software, computers, and information technology services. The primary focus will be on U.S. and EU intellectual property law, but you will also cover contracts, antitrust, international and commercial issues, as well as different technology and business models, including artificial intelligence, cloud computing and open source licensing. You will cover data as an asset, but not information privacy or data protection law topics (which are covered separately in my course on Data Privacy Law, which I am planning to teach again in a future semester).

Prof. Determann’s Al and IT Law Course is focused on practical problem-solving, exercises and quizzes. The class meets for one in-person session at the Free University Berlin on December 3, room 102A on the 1st floor of Van't-Hoff-Str. 6 (Mensa Shokudo building). You will work through course materials and submit a number of quizzes throughout the semester on a weekly basis, as explained in the syllabus.

Prior courses in intellectual property topics are recommended, but not strictly required. If you have never studied copyright, patent, and trade secret law, then you will have to work harder than students who are already proficient in these areas, but if you are interested in the subject, the extra workload should be manageable. An engineering or programming background is not necessary.

Restricted Enrollment

no (that means that everyone who signs up for this course on time can take part in this course)

Course Registration and organisation

It will not be possible for the students themselves to sign up for this course on Campus Management.

Students may register for this course before October 13, 2025 per email sent to lothardetermann@outlook.com and fran.say@bakermckenzie.com to receive course materials, assignments, and quizzes per email. Students are responsible for receiving and timely responding to emails. To avoid missing emails due to spam filtering or other technical issues, consider whitelisting Fran Say’s email address to avoid missing emails, and consider providing several email addresses when you register for the course.

Please direct any questions you may have to lothardetermann@outlook.com.

The Examination Office will sign you up for this course on Campus Management in November, once it has received the participant list from Professor Determann.

De-Registration from this Course

You may drop this course with a valid cause until 14 days prior to the final exam. If you need to withdraw from the course, you must communicate this in writing, or you receive a failing grade. Please also contact the International Office at the Law Department if you have to use this option.

Type of Exam and Exam Period

The course is focused on practical problem-solving, exercises and quizzes. 

You will receive a grade based on the responses to quizzes you submit. You may receive a positive, upward grade adjustment for contributions during the "live" session, and for written assignments you voluntarily submit. You do not have to write any separate exam.

Beyond submitting Quizzes and attending the "live" session, you should also complete all other assignments in writing for your own benefit, but you do not have to submit those written assignments.

Registration for the Exam

Students will automatically be registered for the exam when they sign up for this course.

De-Registration from the Exam

Students who drop this course are automatically de-registered from the exam. Students who do not drop this course via Campus Management and do not take the exam, are going to finish this course with a non-passing grade (0 points).

Grade Release

via Campus Management