Course Catalogue

Law and Digital Creative Industries LAW4187

  • Academic Session: 2026-27
  • School: School of Law
  • Credits: 20
  • Level: Level 4 (SCQF level 10)
  • Typically Offered: Semester 1
  • Available to Visiting Students: Yes
  • Collaborative Online International Learning: No
  • Curriculum For Life: No

Short Description

This course explores the role of law in the business of cultural and creative industries. It considers the impact of digital technologies on production, dissemination and use of creative content, examining and assessing the relevant legal framework and policy discussions in the UK and in Europe. While the course focuses on the copyright, it also makes connections with other areas of intellectual property and internet law.

Timetable

10 two-hour seminars. See 'Additional Relevant Information'.

Requirements of Entry

This course is only available to LLB students.

Excluded Courses

None

Co-requisites

None

Assessment

An essay of no more than 5000 words (100%) providing a critical assessment of a given issue from the perspective of a chosen creative industry, which can be in a form of a legal report directed to a chosen industry giving an advisory position on a topical legal issue.

Course Aims

The principal aim of this course is to provide students with legal knowledge and critical understanding of challenges and opportunities faced by creative and cultural industries in the digital environment. The course offers students an opportunity to reflect on the role law plays, particularly copyright, in a number of specific creative sectors, including but not limited to, book and news publishing, music, movies and video games. The course enables students to examine the legal provisions dealing with production and exploitation of creative works and distribution of accompanying revenue streams.

Students will develop their analytical and critical skills through this course. The course will encourage independent learning providing students with an opportunity to develop their own research. It will equip them with relevant legal knowledge applicable in the operation of creative industries.

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Identify and discuss the main rules governing production, dissemination and use of creative content in the digital environment;

■ Evaluate the effectiveness of legal regulation from the perspective of creative industries;

■ Construct coherent arguments on the role of law in the regulation of creative industries;

■ Situate legal regulation of creative industries in a broader cultural, economic and societal context.

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

No exceptions