ABOUT COPYRIGHTX CARIBBREAN
CopyrightX is an open online course in copyright law offered by the Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society at Harvard Law School. The programme consists of a network of affiliate satellite courses offered in conjunction with partners in different regions and countries. Students of CopyrightX follow the same curriculum as students at Harvard Law School, taught by renowned Intellectual Property Law Professor Terry Fisher.
In 2013, CopyrightX Jamaica was the first foreign affiliate of the CopyrightX programme, and was offered in collaboration with the Norman Manley Law School. In 2021, the course was successfully relaunched as CopyrightX Caribbean, and expanded its reach to interested participants across the Caribbean region. The 2022 edition of the course was also a major success.
While the Harvard Law curriculum focuses on US copyright law, CopyrightX Caribbean supplements this with discussions on Caribbean law and practice, as well as principles of international copyright law. The curriculum covers a wide range of copyright issues including theoretical analysis and case law, as well as practical matters, while addressing both traditional areas of creative activity and the dynamic issues at the technological frontiers of the digital world.
The course is facilitated by Intellectual Property experts with specific experience and expertise in the Caribbean creative industries, and is made possible thanks to the support of Rockstone Legal.
Who is this course for?
The course is designed for anyone interested in learning about copyright law. The target group of participants includes current law students and practicing attorneys, academics and researchers in non-legal fields, artists and creatives, private sector managers, and policymakers working in public sector institutions in the Caribbean region. In particular, we strongly encourage Caribbean creative entrepreneurs, in all fields of arts, to apply for this course.
There is no need to have any legal background in order to follow this course or benefit from it. The only requirements is that participants are older than thirteen at the time of registration.
When is the course offered?
The course is generally offered from January to May. Registration for the course takes place between December and January. The next edition of the course will be held in January 2024.
What are the time requirements?
Previous experience with Copyright X suggests that participants need an average of eight hours per week to dedicate to following this course.
Participants will be required to follow pre-recorded video lectures, and in most instances, cover assigned readings. Once a week, the class and course facilitators will meet via online video conferencing and discuss the topic of the week. Participants are expected to have covered the relevant material in advance, and to be active in the weekly discussions.
The weekly discussion sessions are generally held on Tuesday evenings from 6:00 – 8:00pm EST. The details will be confirmed after registration and may change from edition to edition.
Is the course certified?
At the end of the courses, participants can obtain a certificate of participation issued by the Harvard Law School. In order to obtain the certificate, participants must pass an exam and must have been in attendance for a minimum of ten of the twelve online sessions. The exam is marked by the course facilitators, and is based on the same principle questions given to Harvard Law students, along with additional questions specific to the Caribbean region.
How much does it cost?
Registration for the course costs $250 (USD). In future editions, a limited number of sponsorships will be available from supporting institutions. In exceptional circumstances the course administrators may consider a fee waiver or reduction.
Is any scholarship/sponsorship support available?
We are working to solicit a limited number of scholarships targeting creative practitioners from across the Caribbean. Information about scholarships will be provided when applications for the next edition are open.
We thank the following organisations for their scholarship support:
