The master's degree

History of the Master's Program

The degree program is now 30 years old . It was established in 1989 by Professor M. Vivant and taken over in 2009 by Ms. A. Robin.

1989–2004: Master’s degree in “Intellectual Property Law”
2004–2015: Master’s Degree in Business Law (Research and Professional Track), Specialization in “Intellectual Property Law”
2011–2015: Professional Master’s Degree in Business Law, Specialization in Intellectual Property
2015–2020: Professional Master’s Degree in Business Law, Specialization in Intellectual Property Law and ICT
2021–present: Master’s in Intellectual Property and Digital Law (1st and 2nd year)

Training Objectives

The benefit for students is that they can receive a comprehensive education that covers both theoretical and practical aspects , both domestic and international, both legal and non-legal,and both traditional and innovative.

Students will then be able to ask the right questions when they enter the professional world and consider a problem in its entirety, rather than solely from the perspective of “pure” intellectual property law. For example, while publishing informational content online inevitably raises questions of intellectual property law, it also raises issues regarding the processing of personal data and the liability of technical service providers (web hosts).

This open-minded approach allows students interested in continuing their research to explore new, uncharted areas (see the “Theses” page).

Writing a thesis and completing an internship are designed to train students in research and analytical work, combined with the ability to synthesize information, as well as the ability to respond to real-world situations.

For students in a work-study program, the thesis is replaced by a supervised project developed in collaboration with the host organization.

The exams students take (both written and oral) require them to develop their analytical and critical thinking skills in an exam setting (including both theoretical and practical exams).

Annual Calendar

For students in work-study programs, the supervised projectmust be submitted by August 31 of each year.

For students who are not in a work-study program, thethesis is due on July 31 of each year ( no defense).

In addition to this schedule, there are events in which the Master’s program participates and which shape its rhythm:

the National Moot Court Competition (CN2PI)
the APRAM Award
the Sacem Prize
The Legal Media & Internet Award

Work-study programs and apprenticeships

Work-Study Schedule

The schedule is the same for all training participants; see the annual schedule.

Number of training hours

Academic training: 344 hours

On-the-job training: 980 hours

Supervised project: 140 hours

A few rules regarding work-study programs:

The apprenticeship contract is drawn up in writing and signed by the employer, the apprentice, or the apprentice’s legal representative, using form Cerfa No. 10103*07 or FA 13. In addition to general information about the employer and the apprentice, the contract specifies that the apprenticeship supervisor meets the required professional qualifications.
The apprenticeship contract is open to young people aged 16 to 29 at the start of the apprenticeship (Article L6222-1 of the Labor Code), meaning that the contract must begin no later than the day before the individual’s 30th birthday.
The duration of the apprenticeship contract is equal to the duration of the “training program leading to the qualification covered by the contract.” In all cases, the minimum duration of training at a training center must be equal to 25% of the contract’s duration—for example, at least 402 hours for a 12-month contract.
The start date of the on-the-job training with the employer may not be more than three months after the contract start date. The start date of the training period at the apprentice training center.
The apprenticeship supervisor is responsible for supporting the apprentice and helping them acquire the skills required for the desired qualification, in collaboration with the CFA. This role may be shared among several employees. The apprenticeship supervisor must be an employee of the company, have volunteered for the role, be of legal age, and be of good moral character.
Apprenticeships are not available to new arrivals; foreign students may only enter into an apprenticeship contract after completing their first year of residence. Foreign applicants who hold a residence permit may, once they have signed an apprenticeship contract, apply for a work permit from the Foreign Labor Office (MOE) under the DIRECCTE.
An apprentice with a disability may be officially recognized in order to fully exercise their rights. To do so, an application for Recognition of Disabled Worker Status (RQTH) must be submitted to the Departmental Office for People with Disabilities (MDPH) in the applicant’s place of residence.
The terms and conditions of apprenticeships in the public sector are the same as those in the private sector, with a few exceptions. Apprenticeship contracts signed with a public agency are fixed-term contracts governed by private law (CDD).
If the apprentice fails the exam, the apprenticeship contract may be extended, either with the same employer through an amendment to the contract or by entering into a new contract with another employer. However, this extension may not exceed one year. In the event of another failure, no further extension may be granted.

Please note, however, that you cannot repeat your second year of the Master’s program!

Since January 1, 2019, apprentices have been eligible for a €500 grant to help cover the cost of obtaining a driver’s license. This state-funded grant is processed and disbursed by the CFA.

For more information on work-study contracts, see CFA-EnsupLR

Internships

The internship period, which runsfrom April 1 to June 30 each year , offers students the opportunity to gain experience in a professional field dealing with issues related to intellectual property law and media law.

The internship may be extended until August 31 of the year of enrollment.

This allows students to quickly put the knowledge they gained in the^{first part}of the course to the test.

Academic Regulations

Study trips

In some years, the master’s program offers students the opportunity to take a study trip to visit European intellectual property institutions:

in 2008: visit by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) to Alicante;
in 2017–2018: visit to the European Patent Office (EPO) in Munich;
in 2018–2019: a visit to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in Geneva.

Trip to Geneva – World Intellectual Property Organization (2018–2019)

Trip to Munich – European Patent Office (2017–2018)

Career Opportunities

More than 500 students have graduated from the master’s program since its inception in 1989.

These graduates are now specialized attorneys or patent attorneys.

They also work as in-house counsel at a wide variety of companies, including music production companies, literary publishers, video game publishers, IT companies, pharmaceutical companies, online service providers, and more.

Some students also work as legal professionals in specialized organizations such as Sacem or the French Health Products Safety Agency, or in public institutions such as the Louvre Museum.

To date, more than fifty dissertations have been defended, including 25 between January 2005 and June 2009, and about ten dissertations are currently in the works.

The program boasts a faculty of approximately twenty associate professors, three full professors, and one CNRS research fellow . Several HDR degrees have also been awarded through ERCIM (see the “Members” page).

In pictures…

Graduating classes over the years

Class of 2019–2020, in the Faculty Cloister

The Master's Room…

where Corto Maltese rubs shoulders with the Montpellier Danse festival and Emil Nolde… And the Intellectual Property Code, of course!