Unit Review & Progress Test

Unit review — Intellectual Property, Patents & AI

Al finalizar esta unidad, deberías ser capaz de participar en debates complejos sobre la ética de la inteligencia artificial y la propiedad intelectual. Habrás desarrollado la capacidad de utilizar sustantivos abstractos derivados para expresar conceptos teóricos y legales con precisión, un requisito esencial para el nivel C1.

Asimismo, habrás perfeccionado tu léxico especializado en el ámbito de la innovación, la propiedad intelectual y la tecnología. Ahora deberías poder manejar colocaciones avanzadas y cambios de registro (de lo coloquial a lo formal/académico) para argumentar sobre la protección de patentes y los derechos de autor en la era digital.

Grammar consolidation

Complete the following tasks. Pay close attention to word formation and sentence structure.

Part 1: Transformations Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first, using the word in capitals. Do not change the word given.

1. The company decided to patent the new software. PATENT The software was granted a _____ by the company.

2. It is difficult to understand how the algorithm works. COMPREHENSION The inner workings of the algorithm defy _____.

3. They were very surprised by the sudden technological breakthrough. ASTONISH The sudden technological breakthrough caused great _____.

Part 2: Error Correction Identify and correct the error in each sentence. Some errors relate to incorrect word formation.

4. The legal team is looking into the infringement of the copyright.
5. There is a lot of muchness regarding the ownership of AI-generated art.
6. The suddenness of the innovation led to many legal disputes. (Wait, is there an error here? If not, rewrite using a different noun form: The innovation happened so suddenly that...)

Part 3: Controlled Rewriting Rewrite the sentences using the noun form of the underlined word to make the sentence more formal/academic.

7. The scientist discovered something that changed everything. The scientist's _____ changed everything.

8. We need to protect our ideas from being stolen. The _____ of our ideas is paramount.

9. The judge decided on the case yesterday. The judge's _____ was delivered yesterday.

10. The team collaborated to create the new AI model. The _____ of the team led to the creation of the new AI model.

Vocabulary activation

Part 1: C1 Collocations Fill in the blanks with the correct word to complete the common collocations.

1. To file a patent _____ (application/request/paperwork).
2. To infringe _____ (on/upon/at) copyright.
3. To hold the exclusive _____ (rights/ownership/privilege) to a technology.
4. To reach a legal _____ (settlement/agreement/conclusion) out of court.

Part 2: Word Formation Use the word in capitals to form a word that fits in the gap.

5. The _____ (PROPRIETOR) of the patent has the right to sue for damages.
6. There is significant _____ (CONTROVERSY) regarding whether AI can be an "author".
7. The _____ (VALID) of the patent was challenged in court.
8. The company sought to _____ (STRENGTH) its position through legal means.

Part 3: Register Choice Select the most appropriate formal word for a legal/business context to replace the underlined informal phrase.

9. The company wants to stop (_____) the unauthorised use of its brand. a) wishes to prevent / b) wants to block

10. The lawyer talked about (_____) the implications of the new law. a) brought up / b) addressed

11. The patent is a big deal (_____) in the tech industry. a) is of significant importance / b) is really big

12. We need to look into (_____) the possibility of a merger. a) investigate / b) check out

Integrated skills task

Source Text: The AI Authorship Dilemma

The rise of generative AI has ignited a fierce debate regarding intellectual property. Traditionally, copyright law is predicated on the concept of human creativity; a work must originate from a human mind to be eligible for protection. However, as AI models begin to produce paintings, music, and literature that are indistinguishable from human output, the legal framework is being pushed to its breaking point.

Critics argue that granting patents or copyrights to AI-generated content would devalue human ingenuity and lead to a saturated market of automated works. Conversely, proponents suggest that without legal protections, there is little incentive for companies to invest in advanced AI development. If an algorithm creates a masterpiece, who owns the rights? The programmer, the user, or the machine itself? As the technology outpaces legislation, the legal community faces the monumental task of redefining "authorship" for the 21st century.

Writing Task

Instrucciones: Basándote en el texto anterior, escribe una respuesta de entre 180 y 220 palabras. Debes presentar un argumento sólido sobre si la propiedad intelectual debería otorgarse a las obras creadas por IA. Utiliza un registro formal y emplea el vocabulario aprendido en esta unidad (por ejemplo: infringement, ownership, validity, etc.).

Speaking checkpoint

Answer the following prompts to practice your C1 speaking skills. You can record yourself or practice with a partner.

1. Compare: Compare the concept of traditional copyright with the challenges posed by digital piracy.
2. Speculate: How might the legal landscape change in twenty years if AI becomes sentient?
3. Evaluate: Evaluate the pros and cons of patenting AI algorithms.
4. Justify: Justify the statement: "Intellectual property laws are becoming obsolete in the age of automation."
5. Hypothesize: If you were a judge, how would you decide a case where an AI creates a unique piece of art?
6. Discuss: Discuss the impact of AI on the job market for creative professionals.

Self-assessment rubric

Answer key

Grammar consolidation 1. patent 2. comprehension 3. astonishment 4. No error (infringement is correct) 5. muchness $\rightarrow$ controversy / dispute / ambiguity (Note: 'muchness' is not a standard noun in this context) 6. No error (or: The suddenness of the innovation led to many legal disputes.) 7. discovery 8. protection 9. decision / ruling 10. collaboration

Vocabulary activation 1. application 2. on 3. rights 4. settlement 5. proprietor 6. controversy 7. validity 8. strengthen 9. a) wishes to prevent 10. b) addressed 11. a) is of significant importance 12. a) investigate