Licensing Law and Technology Transfer (LAWS70209)
Graduate coursework level 7Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
Contact information
November
Teaching staff:
Peter Hallett (Subject Coordinator)
Peter Gretton
For current student enquiries, contact the Law School Academic Support Office
Overview
| Availability(Quotas apply) | November |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
Technology transfer is a term used to describe the process by which skills, knowledge and intellectual property rights are moved from one person or organisation to another. Governments and businesses around the world now recognise the fundamental importance of innovation and the commercialisation of new technologies to economic prosperity. Here, technology transfer and in particular intellectual property licensing have a vital role. This subject looks at the legal and commercial issues relevant to technology transfer, with a focus on intellectual property licensing and the negotiation of licence agreements. The subject also includes the licensing of trade marks and software.
The subject lecturers have worked in the field of technology transfer for many years and bring practical perspectives to the topics covered.
Indicative list of principal topics:
- Licensing of:
- Patents and know-how
- Trade marks, including franchise agreements
- Copyright, including computer software
- Impact of competition laws
- Payments and taxes
- Contractual and commercial issues
- Negotiation of licence agreements.
Intended learning outcomes
A student who has successfully completed this subject should be able to:
- Have a detailed understanding of the legal and commercial issues relevant to intellectual property licensing
- Have the cognitive and technical skills to identify, examine and analyse issues in proposed intellectual property licence terms
- Acquire a sophisticated appreciation of the unique issues associated with patent licensing and the disclosure of confidential know how
- Understand how the Franchising Code affects trade mark licensing
- Have an appreciation of how competition law impacts intellectual property licences
- Be able to apply the knowledge obtained to the successful negotiation of licence agreements
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
One of these subjects in the Melbourne Law Masters program
| Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAWS70021 | Patent Law | April (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS70046 | Trade Marks and Unfair Competition | March (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS90125 | Fundamentals of Intellectual Property |
July (On Campus - Parkville)
March (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
OR
One of these subjects in the Juris Doctor
| Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAWS90075 | Patents and Trade Secrets | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS50075 | Trade Mark Law | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS90074 | Copyright and Designs |
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
December (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Recommended background knowledge
Applicants without legal qualifications should note that subjects are taught at an advanced graduate level and requires a thorough background in common law. While efforts are made to meet the needs of students trained in other fields, teaching and assessment activities are designed to give an advanced and integrated understanding of the discipline of law for legal practitioners, learners and researchers.
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: 4 March 2025
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Participation in workshop and preparation of written materials after workshop
| During final workshop | 30% |
Take-home examination
| 8 - 15 December 2025 | 70% |
| Hurdle requirement: A minimum of 75% attendance is required. | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
Additional details
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Quotas apply to this subject
Dates & times
- November
Principal coordinator Peter Hallett Coordinator Peter Gretton Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 34 Total time commitment 150 hours Pre teaching start date 13 October 2025 Pre teaching requirements Please refer to Canvas LMS to check on the pre-class readings and preparatory learning activities before the teaching period commences. Teaching period 10 November 2025 to 16 November 2025 Last self-enrol date 17 October 2025 Census date 14 November 2025 Last date to withdraw without fail 19 December 2025 Assessment period ends 30 January 2026 November contact information
Teaching staff:
Peter Hallett (Subject Coordinator)
Peter GrettonFor current student enquiries, contact the Law School Academic Support Office
What do these dates mean
Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:
- Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
- And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
- Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.
Additional delivery details
Please refer to the Melbourne Law Masters enrolment webpage for further information about re-enrolment, 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: 4 March 2025
Further information
- Texts
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
- 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.
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 subject coordinator approval is required, or for further information about Community Access Program study, please contact us
(enquiries for current students | enquiries for prospective students).
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
Last updated: 4 March 2025