Intellectual Property Protection in Asia (LAWS90298)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
Contact information
November
Teaching staff:
Irene Calboli (Subject Coordinator)
For current student enquiries, contact the Law School Academic Support Office
Overview
| Availability(Quotas apply) | November |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
This subject focuses on Intellectual Property (IP) protection in the Asia-Pacific region. Fuelled by its rising geopolitical importance, the region presents a complex and evolving landscape for IP rights. In this subject we will undertake a critical and comparative analysis of IP laws across key economies like China, India, Japan, and Southeast Asian countries.
Our analysis will encompass large, developed economies and smaller, developing ones. Furthermore, we will explore how recent trade agreements, such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), alongside various free trade agreements within the region and with major players like the US and EU, are shaping not only the regional but also the international landscape of IP protection.
Indicative list of principal topics:
- Comparative IP Law: This will be the core focus, examining similarities and differences in legal frameworks for IP protection across key Asian economies. It will include patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, and potentially other forms of IP.
- Impact of Trade Agreements: The subject will explore how recent agreements like RCEP, CPTPP, and various free trade agreements within and beyond the region (US, EU) affect IP protection in the Asia-Pacific.
- Emerging Issues: The subject will examine current challenges and opportunities in the region, such as IP enforcement, technology transfer, and the protection of traditional knowledge.
- Practical Applications: The subject will provide practical insights for practitioners seeking to advise parties who want to protect and commercialise their IP assets in the Asia-Pacific market.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this subject, students should be able to:
- Recognise and examine in detail the concepts, issues, and rules of IP law and its relationship with international trade in general and trade in the Asia-Pacific region in particular;
- Differentiate between the legal frameworks for IP protection in various Asian-Pacific jurisdictions, including understanding analysing the similarities and differences between countries in the region and the underlying public policies and economic concepts based on the respective national IP laws;
- Appraise and interpret the laws and leading cases of the individual Asia-Pacific countries discussed in the subject;
- Identify legal issues, explain and apply relevant legal principles, and generate solutions to legal problems arising in relevant factual contexts concerning IP protection in countries in Asia-Pacific.
- Discuss and compare major bilateral and plurilateral free trade agreements negotiated and adopted in the region.
Generic skills
- Effectively communicate complex legal ideas, concepts and issues in IP law and their relationship to international trade and legal frameworks;
- Design, conduct and produce a research paper in the area of IP law in the Asia-Pacific region;
- Investigate, evaluate, synthesise and apply legal principles related to factual IP protection scenarios.
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Corequisites
Non-allowed subjects
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 |
|---|---|---|
Class Participation | During the teaching period | 10% |
Class Presentation
| During the teaching period | 20% |
Research Paper
| 14 January 2026 | 70% |
| Hurdle requirement: A minimum of 75% attendance at classes is required. | N/A |
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Quotas apply to this subject
Dates & times
- November
Principal coordinator Irene Calboli Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 34 Total time commitment 150 hours Pre teaching start date 29 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 26 November 2025 to 2 December 2025 Last self-enrol date 3 November 2025 Census date 28 November 2025 Last date to withdraw without fail 9 January 2026 Assessment period ends 13 February 2026 November contact information
Teaching staff:
Irene Calboli (Subject Coordinator)
For 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:
Type Name Course Master of Intellectual Property Law Course Graduate Diploma in Asian Law Course Master of Laws Course Graduate Diploma in Intellectual Property Law Course Graduate Diploma in Laws Course Juris Doctor - 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