A partnership between OCAD University in Toronto and the University of Windsor Faculty of Law will create a new online course in intellectual property (IP) literacy for creative entrepreneurs.

“I am very excited to be working with OCAD University on this program that will foster greater IP literary within the creative arts sector,” says Myra Tawfik, who holds the rank of distinguished university professor and is an expert in intellectual property law.

The project is part of a $70 million provincial investment to implement its Virtual Learning Strategy, providing students with more flexibility and access to high-quality postsecondary education and retraining opportunities.

“These investments build on our government’s plan to make Ontario’s postsecondary education system not only sustainable but competitive,” says Ross Romano, Minister of Colleges and Universities. “The projects build on other investments made by our government to support the competitiveness of our postsecondary sector, such as the creation of virtual micro-credentials programs that will give students access to these programs when and where they want.”

The OCAD-UWindsor Law program is the first of its kind in Canada to focus specifically on creative entrepreneurs and will cover material relating to copyright, trademarks, industrial designs, and IP commercialization strategy. It will also include a dedicated module on Indigenous entrepreneurship and IP.

“Providing IP education and training to creative entrepreneurs is key to enabling the knowledge and awareness of the steps that can be taken to protect their artistic creations,” says Heather Pratt, UWindsor executive director of research and innovation. “This is an important tool that has the potential of providing a sustainable career pathway.”

It is also designed to foster collaboration between law students and creative arts students. The students will work together on content development, offering law students a hands-on opportunity to work side-by-side with individuals from other disciplines on various aspects of entrepreneurship.

“One of the important features of this collaboration is the multidisciplinary peer-learning opportunity for our law students, which will make them more attuned to the needs of innovative entrepreneurs in Canada,” Prof. Tawfik says.

OCAD University's director of continuing studies Evan Tapper adds: “This new program empowers creative professionals, giving them the knowledge and confidence to protect their work and scale their business.”

—Rachelle Prince