Course Listing

Fashion Law
Last Updated Date:   30 June 2023


5 Units,  Semester 2

Course Description:
This course introduces you to the cultural and social significance of fashion, and discusses the intellectual property (IP) laws relevant to the fashion industry. The laws governing the fashion industry are a complex web of laws that include contract, company, employment, insurance, trade laws, but a 5-credit elective will not be able to cover this entire range. Therefore the focus will only be on IP laws. Before delving into the legal doctrines, you will first be familiarised with an interdisciplinary approach – through readings in fashion theory and cultural studies – that will provide you with an understanding of why we dress the way we dress, and how dress codes can have a communicative dimension that can attract the protection of a constitutional right to freedom of expression.

IP laws such as copyright, trademarks, design and geographical indications will be covered, and this course aims to give you a broad understanding of these IP rights drawing from cases in a number of different jurisdictions, i.e. it is not a course on Singapore law.

Case studies covered will span the spectrum of copyright infringement lawsuits against Balenciaga and Guess, trademark registrations by Off-White and Hermes, trademark infringement and dilution claims by Rolex, Christian Louboutin and Tiffany & Co, as well as fashion trends such as counterfeit chic and self-hacking.

Course Convenor: Prof David Tan

Co-teacher(s): NA

Course Codes: LL4453V / LL5453V / LL6453V / LLJ5453V

Contact Hours: 3hr weekly seminar

Workload: 3 hours

Mode of Assessment: Class Participation - 20% & 6-Hr Take Home Exam - 80% [Release: Mon, 22 April 2024 (9am); Due: Mon, 22 April 2024 (3pm)]

Preclusions: LL4453/LL5453/LL6453/LLJ5453 Fashion Law

Prerequisites: NUS Compulsory Core Law Curriculum or common law equivalent..
This is an advanced module. Students should have completed either: (1) Law of Intellectual Property LL4405A/LL5505A/LL6405A/LC5405A/LLJ5505A; LL4405B/LL5505B/LL6405B/LC5405B/LLJ5505B; (2) LL4070V/LL5070V/LL6070V/LLJ5070V; LL4070/LL5070/LL6070/LLJ5070 Foundations of IP; or (3) LL4177V/LL5177V/LLJ5177V/LL6177V; LL4177/LL5177/LLJ5177/LL6177V Entertainment Law.

Examination Date: Different Mode of Examination

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