Dr Ruth Atkins

Senior Lecturer, Law

r.d.atkins@swansea.ac.uk

Basic Welsh Speaker

Office - 116a
First Floor
Richard Price Building
Singleton Campus

Research Links

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1302-8219

About

Ruth joined the School of Law in 2018 as Senior Lecturer and Module Director for Contract Law.

Her early career was spent in commercial management in the IT and healthcare services sectors before commencing her lecturing career at Aberystwyth University, where she taught for many years across the subjects of contract, commercial, company and intellectual property law.

She holds a BA(Hons) in Law and Criminal Justice, an LLM in International Business Law and received a fully funded scholarship to research for her PhD on ‘Computers, Software & Contractual Liability’ which she was awarded from the University of Wales in 2008. Her research has been published in leading contract law and information technology journals, and she is an experienced supervisor and examiner in the fields of contract, commercial and copyright law.

Ruth also holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education, has been a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy since 2007 and is currently working towards Senior Fellowship status. She received a Teaching Excellence Award in 2013 and a further Learning and Teaching Online Award in 2015.

Having co-authored the previous two editions of Koffman and Macdonald’s Law of Contract (8^th, 2014) and (9^th, 2018) with Professor Emeritus Elizabeth Macdonald, Ruth has now taken on sole authorship of the text. Her latest edition of ‘Koffman, Macdonald & Atkins’ Law of Contract (10^th ed) was published in Summer 2022.

Areas Of Expertise

Contract law
Contract management
Commercial law
B2B software contracts

Publications

Research Highlights

Atkins, R. (2022). Koffman, Macdonald & Atkins' Law of Contract 10th edition Oxford University Press.
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa61385
https://global.oup.com/academic/product/koffman-macdonald-and-atkins-law-of-contract-9780198860907?cc=gb&lang=en&
Macdonald, E., Atkins, R., Macdonald, E., & Atkins, R. (2018). Koffman and Macdonald's Law of Contract 9th Edition Oxford University Press.
https://doi.org/10.1093/he/9780198752844.001.0001, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55755
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/he/9780198752844.001.0001
Macdonald, E. & Atkins, R. (2014). Koffman and Macdonald's Law of Contract 8th Edition Oxford University Press.
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55756
https://www.wildy.com/isbn/9780199644834/koffman-macdonald-s-law-of-contract-8th-ed-paperback-oxford-university-press
Atkins, R. (2013). Contract Classification & the Implications of Change: Software, Computers & the Law on Implied Terms. Journal of Contract Law, 30(2), 156-177.
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55757
Atkins, R. (2009). Copyright, contract and the protection of computer programs. International Review of Law, Computers & Technology, 23(1-2), 143-152.
https://doi.org/10.1080/13600860902753528, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55758

All Research

Journal Articles

Atkins, R. (2013). Contract Classification & the Implications of Change: Software, Computers & the Law on Implied Terms. Journal of Contract Law, 30(2), 156-177.
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55757
Atkins, R. (2009). Copyright, contract and the protection of computer programs. International Review of Law, Computers & Technology, 23(1-2), 143-152.
https://doi.org/10.1080/13600860902753528, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55758
Atkins, R. (2005). Software contracts and the acceptance testing procedure. Computer Law & Security Review, 21(1), 51-55.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clsr.2004.11.010, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55760
Atkins, R. (2004). Co-op Group v ICL: Loyalty scheme pays 'Dividend' for Supplier. International Journal of Law and Information Technology, 12(2), 157-167.
https://doi.org/10.1093/ijlit/12.2.157, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55761
Atkins, R. (2003). Computer Contracts: Capturing Requirements and Apportioning Responsibilities. International Review of Law, Computers & Technology, 17(2), 219-230.
https://doi.org/10.1080/1360086032000125021, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55762

Authored Books

Atkins, R. (2022). Koffman, Macdonald & Atkins' Law of Contract 10th edition Oxford University Press.
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa61385
https://global.oup.com/academic/product/koffman-macdonald-and-atkins-law-of-contract-9780198860907?cc=gb&lang=en&
Macdonald, E., Atkins, R., Macdonald, E., & Atkins, R. (2018). Koffman and Macdonald's Law of Contract 9th Edition Oxford University Press.
https://doi.org/10.1093/he/9780198752844.001.0001, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55755
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/he/9780198752844.001.0001
Macdonald, E. & Atkins, R. (2014). Koffman and Macdonald's Law of Contract 8th Edition Oxford University Press.
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55756
https://www.wildy.com/isbn/9780199644834/koffman-macdonald-s-law-of-contract-8th-ed-paperback-oxford-university-press

Book Chapters

Atkins, R. (2008). Unfair Terms in Computer Contracts. E-Contracts - Emerging Dimensions (pp. 55-68). ICFAI University Press
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55759

Taught Modules

LA-369A Coursework 1 & 2 for Graduate Diploma in Law

The module is personal study, by which students submit two pieces of coursework from either LA-362, LA-365 or LA-366 or La-361, LA-367 or LA-368.
LAA100 Contract Law 1

The law of contract is at the heart of the system of obligations in law and forms, together with tort and restitution, elements of the law of obligations. It provides the essential foundation for further subjects in the areas of commercial, consumer, company and business law as well as international trade. The matters covered within Contract Law 1 include contract formation and contents, terms of a contract, and the regulation of exemption clauses and unfair terms under both the common law and statutory regimes.
LAA100C Cyfraith Contract 1

The law of contract is at the heart of the system of obligations in law and provides the essential foundation for further subjects in the areas of commercial, consumer, company and business law as well as international trade. The matters covered within Contract Law 1 include contract formation and contents, terms of a contract, and the regulation of exemption clauses and unfair terms under both the common law and statutory regimes.
LAA108 Contract Law 2

The law of contract is at the heart of the system of obligations in law and forms, together with tort and restitution, elements of the law of obligations. It provides the essential foundation for further subjects in the areas of commercial, consumer, company and business law as well as international trade. The matters covered within Contract Law 2 include misrepresentation, termination, remedies for breach of contract, and duress and undue influence.
LAA108C Cyfraith Contract 2

The law of contract is at the heart of the system of obligations in law and provides the essential foundation for further subjects in the areas of commercial, consumer, company and business law as well as international trade. The matters covered within Contract Law 2 include misrepresentation, termination, remedies for breach of contract, and duress and undue influence.
LAA127 Contract Law

The law of contract is at the heart of the system of obligations in law and forms, together with tort and restitution, elements of the law of obligations. It provides the essential foundation for further subjects in the areas of commercial, consumer, company and business law as well as international trade. The matters covered within Law of Contract include: contract formation and contents; terms of a contract; regulation of exemption clauses and unfair terms under both the common law and statutory regimes; misrepresentation; termination; remedies for breach of contract; and duress and undue influence.
LAA127C Contract Law

The law of contract is at the heart of the system of obligations in law and forms, together with tort and restitution, elements of the law of obligations. It provides the essential foundation for further subjects in the areas of commercial, consumer, company and business law as well as international trade. The matters covered within Law of Contract include: contract formation and contents; terms of a contract; regulation of exemption clauses and unfair terms under both the common law and statutory regimes; misrepresentation; termination; remedies for breach of contract; and duress and undue influence.
LAQ200 Contract Law 1

The law of contract is at the heart of the system of obligations in law and provides the essential foundation for further subjects in the areas of commercial, consumer, company and business law as well as international trade. The matters covered within Contract Law 1 include contract formation and contents, terms of a contract, and the regulation of exemption clauses and unfair terms under both the common law and statutory regimes.
LAQ208 Contract Law 2

The law of contract is at the heart of the system of obligations in law and provides the essential foundation for further subjects in the areas of commercial, consumer, company and business law as well as international trade. The matters covered within Contract Law 2 include misrepresentation, termination, remedies for breach of contract, and duress and undue influence.
LAQ227 Contract Law

The law of contract is at the heart of the system of obligations in law and forms, together with tort and restitution, elements of the law of obligations. It provides the essential foundation for further subjects in the areas of commercial, consumer, company and business law as well as international trade. The matters covered within Law of Contract include: contract formation and contents; terms of a contract; regulation of exemption clauses and unfair terms under both the common law and statutory regimes; misrepresentation; termination; remedies for breach of contract; and duress and undue influence.

Supervision

Prior to her post in Swansea, Ruth supervised PhD candidates in the broad areas of commerce and intellectual property, including specific projects on:

Retention of Title Clauses in Commercial Law
Intersection of Trade Policy and International Intellectual Property Law - a Malaysian perspective
Contractor Protection in Administrative Contracts in Saudi Arabia
Open Access and Copyright-protected digital works
A Comparative Study on Direct and Indirect Copyright Liability in Online Transmissions in the US, UK and China
Ownership in MMORPGs: The Fairness of the Copyright-Contract approach for users? (massively multiplayer online role-playing games)

Dr Ruth Atkins

Email address

Welsh language proficiency

LinkedIn Account

Research Links

About

Areas Of Expertise

Publications

Research Highlights

All Research

Journal Articles

Authored Books

Book Chapters

Taught Modules

LA-369A Coursework 1 & 2 for Graduate Diploma in Law

LAA100 Contract Law 1

LAA100C Cyfraith Contract 1

LAA108 Contract Law 2

LAA108C Cyfraith Contract 2

LAA127 Contract Law

LAA127C Contract Law

LAQ200 Contract Law 1

LAQ208 Contract Law 2

LAQ227 Contract Law

Supervision