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Studies Programme in Innovation and Communications Law (ICL)
(Diploma in Innovation and Communications Law)
Programme Description
The Studies Programme in Innovation and Communications Law (ICL) is a unique whole-year programme offered by the Faculty of Law, University of Turku. The ICL is intended for graduate students willing to specialize in innovation and communications law as part of their Master's Degree in Law as well as for post-graduate students deepening their knowledge within the fields covered. Completing the Programme leads to a Diploma Certificate in Innovation and Communications Law. The Programme will provide the students with the essential insights, capabilities and intellectual tools to analyze the upcoming legal problems of the knowledge society. It concentrates on international and European levels of regulation and their interaction with national legal systems. Rapidly changing conditions for innovation and communication are transforming our society and thus also our legal system and regulation. Internet-based communication and services are flourishing. Distributed modes of creation and innovation are challenging traditional centrally planned innovation within established institutions. Finland has been among the forerunners in this development. Open source development of Linux and the innovation model of Nokia, the global leader in mobile communications, are the best known examples originating in Finland.
Law and lawyers have an important role in affecting both the viability and legitimacy of innovation and communication models, as well as the democratic significance of technologies and related social developments. The laws governing intellectual property, competition, communication and freedom of expression, among others, have become the pillars of knowledge-society regulation. The legitimacy of these laws depends not only on their beneficial impact on economic growth, public security or the levels of creative content and innovation. Relevant laws must also be weighed and balanced with individual rights, as provided by modern constitutions and international human rights treaties.
As a result of its independent, innovative and international approach the Faculty of Law has been recognized by the Ministry of Education as a Centre of Excellence as well as a Centre of Quality from 1997 to 2009. In line with this, the Programme will utilize modern and tested teaching methods, including oral presentations, team-work, academic writing, as well as discussions and exercises. The ICL aims to provide the students with a balanced combination of theoretical insights and practical capabilities. A problem-based approach will be employed, as public and private power and networked cooperation over innovation and communication is regulated by multiple laws. These include human rights laws, laws of media and communication, intellectual property laws, technical standards, laws of contractual obligations and extra contractual damages as well as competition laws.