Course in Intellectual Property in Military Developments
Online 300-hour course in intellectual property in military developments. 6 modules covering Law 24/2015 on Patents (including patents of interest to national defence), Law 1/2019 on Trade Secrets and Espacenet. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Course in Intellectual Property in Military Developments — studying from the United States
Defense engineering is a major pillar of the American economy, with strong clusters in Virginia, Maryland, Alabama, Connecticut and California. Prime contractors such as Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics, Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems Inc. develop land, air and naval systems for the Department of Defense. Work spans vehicle design, weapons integration, survivability and secure systems, governed by strict security and procurement rules. Engineers in this field often hold or pursue security clearances, which shapes career paths and project access.
Fees for the United States: US$500 (US Dollars), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in the United States
Typical roles
Questions from the United States
What US bodies and clearance rules apply to defense and land-systems engineering?
Defense engineering in the US is shaped by the Department of Defense and agencies such as the Army Contracting Command, with work often requiring security clearances issued through federal processes. Professional engineering bodies include the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) and ASME for mechanical systems. Licensure, where needed, comes from state boards. SEIUM's private qualifications are not official degrees and do not confer clearances or licences.
Do US defense contractors and government employers recognize private engineering qualifications?
US defense primes and government employers typically require US citizenship for many roles, security clearances, and accredited degrees or proven experience. A private online qualification is not a substitute for these and is assessed by each employer. It may complement existing expertise, but it should not be relied on as a route into cleared or government positions.
Can a US-based engineer study land-systems topics online alongside full-time work?
Yes, the programmes are online and taught in English, so you can study from home without a student visa. The workload is about 1,900 hours for a master's, 800 hours for a postgraduate diploma, or 300 hours for a specialist course. Each student receives an assigned technical tutor. Fees are payable in instalments, and some employers fund training, so you may wish to ask your employer about support.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Explain the forms of intellectual property in technology projects.
Define a protection strategy combining patents and trade secrets.
Interpret the rights regime in publicly funded and collaborative projects.
Analyse the specific restrictions on inventions of interest to defence.
Negotiate clauses on ownership, licences and access to results.
Plan the exploitation and defence of rights.
Prepare an intellectual property management plan for a project.
Who it's for
- Intellectual property manager wishing to specialise in intellectual property in military developments.
- Technology transfer officer wishing to specialise in intellectual property in military developments.
- Trainee patent agent wishing to specialise in intellectual property in military developments.
- Technology contracts manager wishing to specialise in intellectual property in military developments.
- Technology watch analyst wishing to specialise in intellectual property in military developments.
- Innovation consultant wishing to specialise in intellectual property in military developments.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter the defence industry.
What you'll work with
- Law 24/2015 on Patents (including patents of interest to national defence)
- Law 1/2019 on Trade Secrets
- Directive (EU) 2016/943 (protection of trade secrets)
- European Patent Convention (EPC)
- NATO Agreement for the Mutual Safeguarding of Secrecy of Inventions Relating to Defence (1960)
- Regulation (EU) 2021/697 (European Defence Fund, property rights regime)
- TRIPS Agreement
6 modules · 300 h
1.1Forms of protection: patent, utility model, design and trade secret1.2Copyright and software1.3Trade marks and their role in the sector1.4What is patentable and what is not1.5Requirements of novelty, inventive step and industrial application1.6Ownership versus inventorship1.7Employee inventions and their regime1.8Sector vocabulary and acronyms1.9Information sources and patent databases1.10Exercise: classify a project's assets by form of protection
2.1Deciding between patenting and keeping secret2.2Trade secrets and reasonable protection measures2.3Timing of filing and the effect of disclosure2.4Prior art search2.5Drafting claims and their scope2.6National, European and international routes2.7Costs and protection timeline2.8Technology watch and freedom to operate2.9Patent portfolio and its management2.10Practice: design the strategy for a development
3.1Ownership of results in public contracts3.2Customer usage rights and licences3.3Technical data and rights over documentation3.4Rules of European programmes3.5Consortium agreements and sharing of results3.6Background knowledge and foreground knowledge3.7Access and licences between partners3.8Publication versus protection3.9Participation of universities3.10Practice: negotiate the clauses of a consortium
4.1Secrecy regime for sensitive applications4.2Extension of application publication4.3Export control of technology and documentation4.4Intangible transfers and their control4.5Classification of information and its effect4.6Dual use and protection decisions4.7Assignment and licensing to third countries4.8Foreign investment in technology companies4.9Compliance and internal audit4.10Practice: analysis of the restrictions on an application
5.1Licences, assignments and exploitation agreements5.2Valuation of intangible assets5.3Transfer to spin-off companies5.4Monitoring of infringements5.5Legal actions and interim measures5.6Invalidity and opposition5.7International litigation and cost5.8Settlement agreements and cross-licences5.9Document management of evidence5.10Practice: value a portfolio and its exploitation
6.1Choice of technology development6.2Inventory of protectable results6.3Prior art search6.4Justified protection strategy6.5Clauses for contracts and consortia6.6Analysis of export and secrecy restrictions6.7Exploitation and valuation plan6.8Monitoring and defence plan6.9Strategy report6.10Defence of the project
How you'll learn
100 % online training on the SEIUM Institute campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the intake, which makes it possible to combine study with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Espacenet, Orbit Intelligence, Derwent Innovation, advanced Excel, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Assessments are based on real procedures: analysis of intellectual property clauses in contracts, prior art searches and the preparation of protection strategies. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final integrating project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Explain the forms of intellectual property in technology projects.
Define a protection strategy combining patents and trade secrets.
Interpret the rights regime in publicly funded and collaborative projects.
Analyse the specific restrictions on inventions of interest to defence.
Negotiate clauses on ownership, licences and access to results.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior degree is required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient command of Spanish to follow technical regulatory texts.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme consists of 300 total hours spread over 3 to 5 months. That is an average of 10 to 15 hours per week, compatible with a full-time job.
You work with Espacenet, Orbit Intelligence, Derwent Innovation and advanced Excel. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
An SEIUM Institute diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrating project. It is in-house training, not an official qualification from the Ministry.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised towards the higher programme. Check the recognition policy when you enrol.
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