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Fundamentals of Intellectual Property (LAWS90125)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
From 2023 most subjects will be taught on campus only with flexible options limited to a select number of postgraduate programs and individual subjects.
To learn more, visit COVID-19 course and subject delivery.
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
August
Lecturer
Benjamin Hopper (Coordinator)
Email: law-masters@unimelb.edu.au
Phone: +61 3 8344 6190
Website: law.unimelb.edu.au
Overview
Availability(Quotas apply) | August |
---|---|
Fees | Look up fees |
The objective of this subject is to provide an introduction to, and general overview of, the various Australian legal regimes protecting IP, with reference to the New Zealand legal regimes. Many IP laws like patent, design and copyright laws, are directed at the encouragement and protection of innovations in science, technology and cultural goods. Other IP laws, like trade mark laws, also protect brands, reputations and other important commercial interests. The subject will also introduce the international framework of treaties under which the owners of IP from one country can seek protection in another country.
The subject will be taught by:
- two ‘pre-teaching’ weeks conducted online (asynchronous learning)
- one-week intensive conducted on-campus (synchronous learning). Attendance online may be possible in special circumstances
Principal topics include:
- The concept of IP
- Rationales for IP laws
- International IP treaties
- Protection of confidential information and trade secrets under general law
- Copyright, including protection and infringement
- Registered designs, including protection and infringement
- Trade marks and related laws, including protection and infringement
- Patents, including protection and infringement
- Traditional knowledge
- Principal remedies for IP infringement
Intended learning outcomes
A student who has successfully completed this subject will:
- Have a general and integrated understanding of the legal regimes concerned with the acquisition, maintenance, protection and exploitation of IP and related subject matter in Australia and of the policy objectives underlying these regimes
- Be able to critically examine, analyse, interpret and assess these different legal regimes
- Have the skills and ability to apply, question, and develop their independent thinking on, IP and related laws
- Have a sound appreciation of the factors and processes driving reform of IP and related laws
- Have a general appreciation of the international framework of protection for IP and related subject matter
- Have the skills and ability to apply their knowledge to new situations encountered in their lives, as practising lawyers, attorneys, policy-makers, public officials, businesspeople or otherwise
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Recommended background knowledge
Applicants without legal qualifications should note that subjects are offered in the discipline of law at an advanced graduate level. While every effort will be made to meet the needs of students trained in other fields, concessions will not be made in the general level of instruction or assessment. Most subjects assume the knowledge usually acquired in a degree in law (LLB, JD or equivalent). Applicants should note that admission to some subjects in the Melbourne Law Masters will be dependent upon the individual applicant’s educational background and professional experience.
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: 31 January 2024
Assessment
August
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Multiple-choice test
| The last day of the pre-teaching period. | 10% |
Assignment
| 7 September 2022 | 20% |
Take-home examination
| 7 - 10 October 2022 | 70% |
Hurdle requirement: A minimum of 90% attendance on each on-campus day of the course | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Quotas apply to this subject
Dates & times
- August
Principal coordinator Ben Hopper Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours Two 'pre-teaching' weeks conducted online (asynchronous); one-week intensive conducted on-campus (synchronous). Attendance online may be possible in special circumstances Total time commitment 150 hours Pre teaching start date 20 July 2022 Pre teaching requirements Please refer to the Reading Guide on the LMS subject page for confirmation of which resources need to be read and what other preparation is required before the teaching period commences. Teaching period 17 August 2022 to 23 August 2022 Last self-enrol date 25 July 2022 Census date 18 August 2022 Last date to withdraw without fail 16 September 2022 Assessment period ends 10 October 2022 August contact information
Lecturer
Benjamin Hopper (Coordinator)
Email: law-masters@unimelb.edu.au
Phone: +61 3 8344 6190
Website: law.unimelb.edu.au
Additional delivery details
This subject has a quota of 30 students.
Enrolment is on a 'first in' basis. Waitlists are maintained for subjects that are fully subscribed.
Students should note priority of waitlisted places in subjects will be given as follows:
- To currently enrolled Graduate Diploma and Masters students with a satisfactory record in their degree
- To other students enrolling on a single subject basis, eg Community Access Program (CAP) students, cross-institutional study and cross-faculty study.
Please refer to the Melbourne Law Masters website for further information about the management of subject quotas and waitlists.
Melbourne Law School may reserve places in a subject for incoming international cohorts or where a subject is core to a specialisation with limited alternate options.
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Specialist materials will be made available via the LMS in the pre-teaching period.
- Links to additional information
- 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.
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-masters@unimelb.edu.au for subject coordinator approval.
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 31 January 2024