This four-course Specialization from the University of Illinois College of Law is designed for business and technology professionals who manage, license, or depend on intellectual property. You will learn how patents, trade secrets, copyright, and trademarks protect technology assets; how to structure IP ownership and licensing agreements; how to manage open source and infringement risk; how to enforce and manage an IP portfolio; and how antitrust law, FRAND commitments, and international treaties shape licensing and global protection. Coverage of patent eligibility for software, AI, and biotech, ownership of AI-generated content, and clearance of AI training data keeps the material current as emerging technologies change what can be protected and who bears the risk.
Applied Learning Project
Rather than a single capstone deliverable, learners work through applied scenarios across the four courses, such as spotting IP issues in a connected home security device and a SaaS analytics platform, evaluating open-source licensing and infringement risks, and deciding whether and how to enforce IP rights. These scenarios let learners practice the judgment calls business and technology teams face, including when to involve legal counsel.
