Owning Ideas: Creation, Innovation & Law (LAWS30017)
Undergraduate level 3Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
Overview
| Availability | Semester 1 |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
The capacity to generate ideas is both a fundamental characteristic of human beings and the source of humankind's cultural and economic advancement. This subject is concerned with the law's response to the issues of when, how and by whom ideas can be owned. In particular, it explores the rationale for and operation of intellectual property regimes - copyright, patent and trade mark laws - as they apply to the creative arts, the sciences and the business world.
The principal topics covered are:
- Why protect ideas?
- What rights are provided to the creators of literature, art, music and film?
- How can innovators protect their inventions?
- When can a brand owner prevent a competitor from making a similar-named or similar-looking product?
- When should others be able to make use of protected ideas?
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this subject students should:
- Appreciate the cultural and economic objectives and challenges in protecting the products of human creativity and innovation;
- Recognise the types of creations and innovations protected by the law; and
- Understand the basic features of the protection provided by the law to those creations and innovations.
Generic skills
On completion of the subject, students should have developed the following generic skills:
- The capacity for close reading and analysis of a range of textual materials;
- The capacity to engage in critical thinking and to bring to bear a range of conceptual analyses upon a given subject matter;
- The capacity for independent thought and reflection;
- The capacity to articulate knowledge and understanding of complex ideas in oral and written form; and
- The ability to confront unfamiliar and challenging issues and to consider appropriate legal and policy responses to them.
Last updated: 9 April 2025
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Recommended background knowledge
It is strongly recommended that students have completed at least 100 points of undergraduate study before enrolling in this subject. The subject level is an indicator as to the difficulty of the subject and expected workload.
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 9 April 2025
Assessment
Additional details
- Class participation (5%);
- Multiple-choice test undertaken in week 5 (10%);
- Written assignment of 2,500 words, due no later than the end of week 6 (25%);
- A 2-hour written examination (60%).
The due date of the above assessment will be available to students via the LMS subject page.
Last updated: 9 April 2025
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Principal coordinator Andrew F. Christie Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 36 hours (one 1.5-hour lecture and one 1.5-hour workshop per week) Total time commitment 136 hours Teaching period 26 February 2018 to 27 May 2018 Last self-enrol date 9 March 2018 Census date 31 March 2018 Last date to withdraw without fail 4 May 2018 Assessment period ends 22 June 2018 Semester 1 contact information
Time commitment details
136 hours
Last updated: 9 April 2025
Further information
- Texts
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Breadth Track Law - Media and Intellectual Property Law - Breadth options
This subject is available as breadth in the following courses:
- Bachelor of Arts
- Bachelor of Biomedicine
- Bachelor of Commerce
- Bachelor of Design
- Bachelor of Environments
- Bachelor of Music
- Bachelor of Science
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Please note Single Subject Studies via Community Access Program is not available to student visa holders or applicants
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
If required, please contact law-admissions@unimelb.edu.au for subject coordinator approval.
Last updated: 9 April 2025