C1IELTS-style · Band 7.0–8.0Writing55 min

IELTS Writing: Intellectual Property and Copyright

Intellectual property and copyright online

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💡

Module 1: Vocabulary & Grammar Build-Up

Get confident with high-scoring vocabulary, natural collocations, essay transitions, and past-perspective structures before writing your full response.

📋 How to use this lesson

For Teachers

This is a 15-minute warm-up.

Check student answers against the key provided.

For Students

Start with word forms, then move to grammar.

Review your work against the key at the end.

Part A

Word Forms: Building Flexibility

Complete each sentence using the correct form of the word in brackets.

Question 1 • Unit Word: Patent

The software firm filed an application to protect its newly [patent] algorithm against overseas clones.

Write the correct form: ____ (Your answer...)

Question 2 • Unit Word: Trademark

Online retailers risk suspension if they sell [trademark] items without proper authorisation from the brand owner.

Write the correct form: ____ (Your answer...)

Question 3 • Unit Word: Licence

Independent producers rely heavily on the [licence] of their digital tracks to earn money around the world.

Write the correct form: ____ (Your answer...)

Question 4 • Unit Word: Exclusive

Creators often demand territorial [exclusive] so that rival streaming services cannot host the identical podcast series.

Write the correct form: ____ (Your answer...)

Question 5 • Unit Word: Infringe

Uploading full-length feature films without consent constitutes a clear copyright [infringe].

Write the correct form: ____ (Your answer...)

Part B

Collocations: Natural Word Partners

Select the most natural verb or phrase that pairs with the unit vocabulary.

Question 6 • Collocation with: Piracy

International regulators have united to ______ digital piracy and safeguard independent software houses.

____ a. dismiss ____ b. provoke ____ c. combat ____ d. compose

Question 7 • Collocation with: Counterfeit

Customs officers deployed machine vision systems to help spot and ______ counterfeit electronics before arrival.

____ a. borrow ____ b. seize ____ c. imitate ____ d. register

Question 8 • Collocation with: Remix

Many young artists argue that the rise of online video has fostered a rich ______ culture where reuse stimulates innovation.

____ a. remix ____ b. remaking ____ c. reshuffle ____ d. revision

Question 9 • Collocation with: Loophole

Unscrupulous platforms frequently ______ a legal loophole in cross-border hosting rules to evade statutory penalties.

____ a. draft ____ b. commit ____ c. overlook ____ d. exploit

Question 10 • Collocation with: Takedown

The copyright holder instructed legal counsel to ______ a formal takedown notice to the hosting provider.

____ a. award ____ b. issue ____ c. discharge ____ d. rehearse

Part C

Common Essay Phrases: Linking Ideas Smoothly

Complete each sentence with one phrase from the word bank below. Use each phrase exactly once:

Admittedly Notwithstanding It could be argued that By contrast Consequently

Question 11 • Introducing a tentative viewpoint

________________ unrestricted access to educational materials accelerates personal learning in remote communities.

Fill in the phrase: ____ (Type phrase...)

Question 12 • Conceding a counter-argument

________________, tracing every anonymous file upload is virtually impossible without intrusive surveillance.

Fill in the phrase: ____ (Type phrase...)

Question 13 • Prepositional contrast with a noun phrase

________________ widespread public criticism of high subscription fees, content makers still need sustainable revenue.

Fill in the phrase: ____ (Type phrase...)

Question 14 • Comparing two contrasting situations

Physical books require costly paper and postage. ________________, digitised texts can be copied and delivered worldwide at near-zero marginal cost.

Fill in the phrase: ____ (Type phrase...)

Question 15 • Showing a logical result

Many independent journalists lost their subscriber base to uncredited mirror sites; ________________, several established outlets ceased daily publication.

Fill in the phrase: ____ (Type phrase...)

Part D

Paraphrase: Saying It Another Way

Rewrite the prompt sentence using varied vocabulary and structure. Choose or complete the best C1-level paraphrase.

Question 16 • Rewrite the sentence

Original Sentence

"Anyone can easily download songs without paying, so musicians lose a lot of income."

Which option provides the most precise, academic paraphrase?

____ a. Because downloading tunes is so simple today, singers fail to get rich through their hard work. ____ b. Unpaid downloading is so easy that it costs musicians a large part of their earnings. ____ c. If anyone takes musical files freely from web pages, musicians are going to feel quite sad about money.

Question 17 • Rewrite the sentence

Original Sentence

"Tough copyright laws might stop people from sharing knowledge freely."

Complete the paraphrase with the missing word:

The free dissemination of knowledge risks being ________ by overly restrictive intellectual property regulations.

Missing word: ____ (Type one word...)

Question 18 • Rewrite the sentence

Original Sentence

"Companies need to make money, but users want everything to be free."

Select the version that creates the best balance of concession and contrast:

____ a. While firms must stay profitable, internet users increasingly expect everything to be free. ____ b. Firms require cash flow; however, humans naturally dislike spending any money on the internet. ____ c. Enterprises make money, but notwithstanding that, everybody wants free downloads always.

Part E

Grammar Recap: Future in the Past

When narrating background events or evolution in your essay, use these patterns to view a future action from a point in the past.

📌 Patterns to remember

1. was / were to + verb

Says what was planned for later, or in a story what was going to happen next:

"The new law was to change everything for independent bloggers."

2. was / were about to + verb

Describes an action on the verge of taking place in the immediate moment:

"The singer was about to sign the new contract when her manager phoned."

3. was / were due to + verb

Refers to an official schedule or timetable arranged in the past:

"The licensing treaty was due to take effect in June."

4. would later + verb

Narrates a subsequent outcome from a past starting point:

"She started with an open remix and would later win the court case."

Question 19 • Turning point in history

Years ago, the launch of one file-sharing site ________ (change) the way people shared music forever.

Complete the sentence with the form that fits a turning point:

Write the verb form: ____ (Type your answer...)

Question 20 • Immediate past expectation

The animator ________________ (release) her new web series for free when an entertainment agency offered an exclusive contract.

____ a. was due release ____ b. was about to release ____ c. would be release ____ d. is to release

Question 21 • Subsequent event

Although early critics ridiculed the community licence model, its collaborative principles ________________ (inspire) open-source software projects worldwide.

Write the phrase that shows a later result: ____ (Type your answer...)

✍️

Module 2: The Writing Task

This is the main writing task. You have 30 minutes. Follow the structure provided.

Essay Question

"Some people say that everything shared on the internet should be free for anyone to copy and use. To what extent do you agree or disagree?"

Minimum Length: 250 words

1

Grammar Requirement

Include at least 3 sentences using future in the past:

was to was about to was due to would later was going to + perfect

2

Vocabulary Requirement

Include at least 5 Unit words:

patent trademark licence exclusive infringe piracy counterfeit remix loophole takedown

Structure

4-Paragraph Plan

Organize your response using these exact paragraph starters:

Paragraph 1

"It is often argued that ..."

Paragraph 2

"A further consideration is ..."

Paragraph 3

"Admittedly, ..."

Paragraph 4

"On balance, ..."

✅

Self-Check List

Before submitting your essay, verify that your writing satisfies all four requirements:

____ 1. My essay is at least 250 words long and clearly addresses both sides of the issue. ____ 2. I have integrated at least 3 sentences using future in the past structures. ____ 3. I have used at least 5 target words from the Unit word list accurately in context. ____ 4. I have followed the 4-paragraph plan using the four designated sentence starters.

Submission

Free-Writing Response

⏱️ Suggested time: 30 minutes

Grading Criteria

Task Response
Coherence and Cohesion
Lexical Resource
Grammatical Range and Accuracy

Write your essay here: ____ (Start your essay with: It is often argued that ...)

Target: 250+ words Includes AI-automated evaluation upon completion

📖

Module 3: Model Essay Analysis

Read this sample essay to see how a strong student approaches the task.

Model Focus Notice how the four paragraph starters frame clear arguments, while bold phrases view future events from the past.

267 words (essay only, notes not counted) • Level C1

Sample Response

Intellectual Property in the Digital Commons

Written in the authentic voice of a high-achieving C1 student.

Paragraph 1: Introduction

It is often argued that all digital creations posted online should be entirely free for anyone to reproduce and repurpose. When the internet first emerged, many early developers assumed that this virtual network was to eliminate traditional intellectual property boundaries.

💡 Why this works: This shows an event seen as inevitable or destined from a past viewpoint.

However, I strongly disagree with the notion that all online materials ought to be freely exploitable, as this undermines creative industries and devalues genuine labour.

Paragraph 2: First Main Argument

A further consideration is that unregulated access devastates creators who depend on licensing royalties. If any individual could reproduce an artist's original work without permission, digital piracy and counterfeit distributions would quickly multiply. Years ago, advocates insisted that open circulation would help independent writers, yet piracy would later cost many of them their income.

💡 Why this works: This shows a later outcome looked back upon from an earlier point in time.

Without exclusive ownership rights or the power to issue a takedown notice against unauthorised copies, talented individuals will ultimately abandon creative work.

Paragraph 3: Concession & Counter-Perspective

Admittedly, reasonable reuse can stimulate fresh expression across digital platforms. Modern artists frequently remix existing music and visual imagery to produce groundbreaking work, demonstrating how digital interaction enriches culture. One visual designer I followed was going to have released his entire portfolio into the public domain by June, but he stopped when online sellers began commercialising his designs through legal loopholes.

💡 Why this works: This shows an intended action in the past that did not end up happening.

This proves that unmonitored sharing directly invites commercial exploitation rather than noble collaboration.

Paragraph 4: Conclusion

On balance, while informal reuse fosters engagement, allowing anyone to infringe copyrights without restriction is fundamentally harmful. Society was about to overlook the true cost of uncredited media until independent artists spoke out against free distribution.

💡 Why this works: This shows an action that was on the verge of occurring before circumstances changed.

Creative workers deserve statutory protection for their labour, ensuring that open access never destroys their livelihood.

Elements Demonstrated in this Model

Target Words Integrated: licensing, piracy, counterfeit, exclusive, takedown, remix, loopholes, infringe

Past Perspective Structures: was to eliminate, would later cost, was going to have released, was about to overlook

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