Contact Information:

University of Vaasa
Faculty of Business Studies
Business Law
P.O. Box 700
FI-65101 Vaasa, Finland

Email:
firsname.lastname@uwasa.fi

Studies

HUOM!! Teleoikeus TOIK3024

The name of the course is Tele Law in english.

Kursens namn är Tele Rätt på svenska.

Intellectual Property Law

Code: TOIK2033
Credit Units: 6cr
Level: Graduate
Prerequisites: Contract law
Objectives: By the end of this course students understand and are provided for advanced critical legal evaluation of intellectual property and other information society related regulation, especially in the Nordic countries and in the EU.
Content: Copyright, Right to Patents, Integrated Circuits, Firm and Trademark Law. Selected parts of Model Law, Plant Breeding Law, Unfair Competition and Business Secrets. The legal protection for digital products is especially emphasized.
Study Materials:
1. Scandinavian Studies in Law Volume 42 (2002). Intellectual Property. Stockholm: Jure AB.
Or
Bernitz, Karnell, Pehrson & Sandgren (2007). Immaterialrätt och otillbörlig konkurrens. 10. uppl. Stockholm: Juristförlaget (Selected parts according to Finnish Law).
Or
Haarmann, Pirkko-Liisa (2006). Immateriaalioikeus. 4. painos. Helsinki: Talentum Media Oy.
2. Bruun, Niklas (ed) (2005). Intellectual property beyond rights. Helsinki: WSOY .
Or
Haarmann, Pirkko-Liisa (2005). Tekijänoikeus ja lähioikeudet. Helsinki: Talentum Media Oy.
3. Legislation according to what the lecturer informs.
Teaching Methods: Lectures 20 h.
Modes of Study: Exam, where the student may use the law book. The student has to become acquainted with the central legislation when studying the literature.
Further Information: It is possible to perform the course as a net course with essays and working papers. Look forward alternative way of assessment.
Responsible teacher: Alfred Streng

Introduction to Finnish Law and Legal Culture

Code: TOIK2034
Credit Units: 6 cr
Objectives: By the end of this course students understand the central issues of the legal cultures in Nordic countries. Students have knowledge of the main regulations of business law.
Content: Central parts of the legal systems of Finland and other Nordic countries. Special emphasis will be put on contract and company law.
Study Materials:
1. Toiviainen, Heikki (2008). Introduction to Finnish Business Law. Helsinki: Edita.
2. Literature determined by the teacher.
Modes of Study: Examination.
Teacher: Vesa Annola

Legal Aspects of Electronic Business

Code: TOIK2035
Credit Units: 6cr
Level: Graduate
Objectives: By the end of this course students shall be able to identify the different legal aspects of electronic business. Students shall also be able to use their knowledge in business practice.
Content: The legal problems of the electronic commerce: 1) Electronic contracts in consumer trade and in business-to-business trade, 2) questions regarding the intellectual property rights, such as protection of copyright of digital products and protection of trademarks, brands, commercial names and domain names, 3) the protection of the consumer rights, 4) the protection of personal data, 5) liabilities, 6) the taxation of the electronic commerce and 7) the rules concerning the choice of applicable law.
Study Materials
1. Laine, Juha (toim.) (2001). Verkkokauppaoikeus. Helsinki: Werner Söderström Oy. Pages 1-47 and 131-386.
Or
Nielsen, Ruth, Sören Jacobsen & Jan Trzaskowski (eds.) (2004). EU Electronic Commerce Law. Copenhagen: Djöf Publishing.
2. Mannio, Lauri (2001). Sähköisen kaupankäynnin verotus. Helsinki: WSOY.
Or
Rendahl, Pernilla (2009). Cross-Border Consumption Taxation of Digital Supplies. Amsterdam: International Bureau of Fiscal Documentation.
Or
Other literature announced by the teacher.
3. Material available in the Internet provided by the teacher.
4. Legislation (national laws, directives) concerning electronic commerce as announced by teacher.
Teaching Methods: Lectures 20 h.
Modes of Study: Written examination where the student may use the law book. The student has to become acquainted with the central legislation when studying the literature. Look forward alternative way of assessment.
Teachers: Brita Herler
Further Information: It is possible to perform the course as a net course with essays and working papers.

Legal Aspects of Electronic Business (Law and ICT Virtual Campus)

Code: TOIK2038
Credit Units: 6cr
Level: Graduate
Objectives: By the end of this course students shall be able to identify the different legal aspects of electronic business. Students shall also be able to use their knowledge in business practice.
Content: The legal problems of the electronic commerce: 1) Electronic contracts in consumer trade and in business-to-business trade, 2) questions regarding the intellectual property rights, such as protection of copyright of digital products and protection of trademarks, brands, commercial names and domain names, 3) the protection of the consumer rights, 4) the protection of personal data, 5) liabilities, 6) the taxation of the electronic commerce and 7) the rules concerning the choice of applicable law.
Study Materials:
1. Laine, Juha (toim.) (2001). Verkkokauppaoikeus. Helsinki: Werner Söderström Oy. Pages 1-47 and 131-386.
Or
Nielsen, Ruth, Sören Jacobsen & Jan Trzaskowski (eds.) (2004). EU Electronic Commerce Law. Copenhagen: Djöf Publishing.
2. Mannio, Lauri (2001). Sähköisen kaupankäynnin verotus. Helsinki: WSOY.
Or
Rendahl, Pernilla (2009). Cross-Border Consumption Taxation of Digital Supplies. Amsterdam: International Bureau of Fiscal Documentation.
Or
Other material announced by the teacher.
3. Other material (available in the Internet) announced by the teacher.
4. Legislation (national laws, directives) concerning electronic commerce as announced by teacher.
Teaching Methods: Course will be arranged in a Moodle-environment as a part of Law and ICT Virtual Campus. Course is arranged in collaboration with Beja Polytechnical University, Portugal. Course consists of material in web-based teaching environment, discussions and written assignments (essays).
Modes of Study: 1. Active participation in on-line discussion, 2. Questionnaire. Written answers (1 page /question) on the questions provided by the teacher. The answers must be based on the course literature, 3. Essays. Two written essays (5 - 10 pages / essay) about the key issues of the course.
Teacher: Mika Kärkkäinen

Legal Foundations of the Russian Economy

Code: TOIK2032
Credits Units: 6 cr
Objectives: The course introduces student the legal foundations of Russian economic system. Student becames aware of the interaction between Russian political, economic and legal system and its impact on Russian society. Student is familiar with the basics of Russian business law, as well as the legal system of Russian foreign trade in the context of Russian integration into the world economy.
Content: The constitutional system of Russian Federation, company law and the law of contracts in Russian Federation, Russian foreign trade legislation, Russian accession to World Trade Organization.
Study Materials:
1. Tolonen & Topornin (ed.) (2000) Legal Foundations of Russian Economy. Helsinki: Aleksanteri Institute.
2. Nystén-Haarala, Soili (2001). Russian Law in Transition. Helsinki: Aleksanteri Institute. Chapters 2 (Russian Property Rights in Transition, pp. 127-212) and 3 (Russian Enterprises and Company Law in Transition, pp. 213-276). Articles are also available at the Internet site of International Institute for Applied System Analysis: http://www.iiasa.ac.at/Admin/PUB/Documents/IR-01-006.pdf and
http://www.iiasa.ac.at/Admin/PUB/Documents/IR-01-005.pdf
3. Other literature will be specified by the lecturer in the beginning of the lectures.
Teaching Methods: Lectures 20 h.
Modes of Study: Examination.
Teacher: Mika Kärkkäinen

Legal Problems of Foreign Trade

Code: TOIK2036
Credit Units: 6cr
Objectives: By the end of this course students should embrace the regulation system of international trade. Students know the central instruments in international trade and the regulation of the instruments.
Content: The central legal issues of international trade and the activities and structure of governmental commercial organizations.
Study Materials:
1. Understanding the WTO. Publication can be found in Internet under the address http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_whatis_e.htm
2. Murray, Carole (2007). Schmitthoff's Export Trade: The law and practice of international trade. 11. ed. London: Sweet & Maxwell. Part I - III and XIII.
3. Literature about international business law, determined by the teacher.
Modes of Study: Examination
Teachers: Vesa Annola

Market Law (in the Nordic Countries and EU)

Code: TOIK2039
Credits Units: 6cr
Level: Graduate
Prerequisites: Introduction to Business Law.
Objectives: By the end of this course students have a comprehensive view of market law and its central elements. Students also have an understanding of the market law rules that concern business in practice.
Content: 1. The regulation of marketing and legal estimation. 2. The legal relation between enterprises. 3. Consumer protection in business. 4. Limitations of competition. 5. Public purchases.
Study Materials:
1. Davies, Gareth (2006). European Union Internal Market Law. London.
Or
Mäkinen, Pentti, Paula Paloranta, Hannu Pokela & Kristiina Vuori (2006). Markkinaoikeuden perusteet. Helsinki: Talentum Media Oy. Pages 1-56 and 121-369.
2. Wilhelmsson, Thomas, Salla Tuominen & Heli Tuomola (eds.) (2001). Consumer Law in the Information Society. The Hague: Kluwer Law International.
Or
Herler, Brita Kristina (2008). Kuluttajansuoja. Osa 1. Vaasa.
Or
Herler, Brita Kristina & Alfred Streng (2008). Kommentarer till konsumentskyddslagen. Del I. Vasa.
3. Bovies, Christopher (2008). EU Public Procurement Law. Birmingham: Edward Eögar Pub.
Or
Kuusniemi-Laine, Anna & Pilvi Takala (2008). Julkiset hankinnat - käsikirja. Helsinki: Edita Publishing Oy.
4. Legislation in accordance with what the lecturer informs. The student has to become acquainted with the central legislation when studying the literature.
Teaching Methods: Lectures 20 h.
Modes of Study: Exam where the student may use the law book. The student has to become acquainted with the central legislation when studying the literature.
Teacher: Brita Herler
Further Information: It is possible to perform the course as a net course with essays and working papers. Look forward alternative way of assessment.

Alternative way of assessment

The examination may be done by a) performing the exam, including the literature and the questions dealt with on the lectures, or b) answering specific questions and writing essays, 3 x 5–10 pages + cover page + list of content + list of sources. At least 5 sources per essay. Pay attention to the references. The essays should be done according to the directives by the faculty. The themes for the essays can be chosen
by the students themselves and a proposal ought to be done by e-mail to the lecturer in charge. The themes can be chosen from different questions dealt with within the course. It is recommendable that EU –law, laws, decrees, decision of the Council of Ministries, decisions from the Supreme Court and the Supreme Administrative Court etc are used. These can be found on Internet and they are legal sources. Thereto doctoral theses and the course literature may be useful sources. Useful links are : Finlex, Edilex, Parliament of Finland, Finnish Government, Suomi.fi, Institute for Law and Informatics (University of Lapland), EUR-Lex

Useful links in english

http://www.finlex.fi/en/

http://web.eduskunta.fi/Resource.phx/parliament/index.htx

http://www.eduskunta.fi/kirjasto/Elki/elkieng.html

http://www.prh.fi/en.html

http://www.minedu.fi/OPM/?lang=en

http://www.kuluttajavirasto.fi/en-GB/

http://www.kilpailuvirasto.fi/cgi-bin/english.cgi

http://www.iprinfo.com/page.php?page_id=75

EUROPA - portal site of the European Union [European Union]

EUR-Lex. Access to the European Union law [European Union]

European Union Documents [European Union]