This course aims at demonstrating the impact of law on business and society. It is designed for students who have gained already some experience (fourth semester) so that they are able to develop a more comprehensive view over their previous courses in business and economics (and the legal course Governance and Legal Environment). To this end, specific areas of law are presented to make students understand the effects of legal regulation on individuals, businesses and society as a whole. 

This will include tax law (and the impact of taxation on business, public finance and society), the law of intellectual property (the concept of intellectual property rights and their protection) and the legal regulation of competition (regulatory rules and their economic effects). 

All content will be primarily based on relevant international legal standards and concepts or, where useful, on a comparison of national legal systems. 

Topics covered:

• Intellectual Property Rights (Copyright, Patent, Trademarks, Design)
• Unfair Competition
• Competition Law (Cartels, Merger Control)
   
• Policy Design of Tax Systems 
• Income Tax
• Corporation Tax / Business Taxation 
• Value Added Tax (VAT)
• Principles of International Tax

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to

• understand basic concepts of intellectual property rights
• understand the purpose and effects of competition law
• understand design concepts of important types of taxes 
• understand the functions of tax as both a cost for taxpayers / business and a duty against society 
• understand the principles for the taxation of international businesses 

Attendance: Students are expected to attend at least 70% of classes. However, for successful passing of the course it is recommended to keep absence to a minimum. Students who miss the first class without prior notification to the course convenors will be deregistered from the course.

This course combines the approach of a traditional lecture with interactive elements such as real-life case studies, aiming at a thorough comprehension of the topics of the course relevant for the exams and practice. 

Assessment is based on two exams: an intermediate exam covering the contents of the first part of the course (1/3 of maximum points) and a final exam covering the contents of the second part of the course (2/3 of maximum points).

Grading scale (in % of maximum points):

Excellent (1): 87.5% - 100% 
Good (2): 75% - 87.5% 
Satisfactory (3): 62.5% - 75%
Sufficient (4): 50% - 62.5%
Fail (5): < 50%