The programme „International Studies in Intellectual Property Law” was established in 1999 by Professor Horst-Peter Götting, Professor of Civil Law and Intellectual Property Law at the Technische Universität Dresden. The programme was awarded a prize by the “Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft” (Foundation for German Science) and is supported by the “Deutschen Vereinigung für Gewerblichen Rechtsschutz und Urheberrecht e. V.” (GRUR). It is unique in its combination of a highly specialised education in the field of Intellectual Property Law at our faculty in Dresden and at one of our renowned partner universities in Exeter, Krakow, London, Prague, Seattle and Strasbourg.

Today, the globalisation of international trade does not only strengthen the demand for harmonised legal standards in the domain of Intellectual Property Law. There is also a need for highly qualified multilingual lawyers who are able to deal with intellectual property rights across national borders. However, the curricula of most law faculties do not rise to this need. Lectures on the Law of Intellectual Property are rarely offered despite the fact that both, industry and law firms, are searching for legal experts in this area of law. Our LL.M programme steps into this gap by offering a specialised education which enables students to meet the requirements of a future career in international Intellectual Property Law.

The traditionally technical orientation of the Technische Universität Dresden and the concentration on interdisciplinary aspects of law and technology in its Faculty of Law provides an ideal foundation for the studies of Intellectual and Industrial Property Law in Dresden. Furthermore, with both AMD and Infineon microchip production sites established in Dresden, the city has become the largest and most modern location for high technology in the eastern part of Germany. As a result of this development, the Regional Court of Appeal in Dresden has created a special Chamber for Industrial Property and Copyright, in which Professor Horst-Peter Götting, Head of the LL.M. programme, has a seat as a judge. Furthermore, the eastward enlargement of the European Union has put Dresden at the geographical centre of the EU. All this makes the city of Dresden an ideal location to promote the education of young lawyers in the field of Intellectual Property Law with its European and international aspects.