Intellectual property may be thought of as different forms of legal rights over creativity or innovation.  Within Australia, the main forms of intellectual property protected, and the focus of this course, are statutory rights relating to Copyright, Patents, Designs and Trade Marks, as well as rights relating to confidentiality and unfair competition.  Intellectual Property is also a global concern, with complex interrelationships between the different forms of Intellectual Property and the process of reform of those rights.  In doing so, this course will provide opportunities for students to explore key policy themes: the globalisation of trade; the rise of information technology; the scientific revolutions in agricutlture, medicine and biotechnology; the development of personality rights; enrighment of a Creative Commons; and the protection of traditional knowledge and culture.  Intellectual Property is an incredibly dynamic and controversial area of law.  Being able to sift through the commentary and recent developments to gauge their effect is vital.  This course will therefore also attempt to ensure students are equippped to understand and respond to changes in intellectual property and able to contribute to the process of reform.

A participant who has successfully completed this course should:

• have an understanding of the fundamental legal principles relating to confidential information, copyright, patents, designs, trade marks and unfair competition;
• be able to identify, apply and assess principles of law relating to each of these areas of intellectual property;
• understand the legal and practical steps needed to ensure that intellectual property rights remain valid and enforceable;
• be able to demonstrate a capacity to identify, apply and assess ownership rights and marketing protection under intellectual property law as applicable to information, ideas, new products and product marketing;
• understand current and emerging issues relating to the intellectual property protection, including those relating to indigenous knowledge or culture, information technology especially the distribution of material on the internet, biotechnology and international trade; and
• be able to anticipate and subject to critical analysis arguments relating to the development and reform of intellectual property right institutions and their likely impact on creativity and innovation.

Assessment in this course will involve group and individual forms of assessment.  Students will work in a group to present at 1-hour seminar on a topic of their choice.  They will also work together to provide some feedback on the presentations of their peers.  Individuals will sit an end of semester open book exam, and reflect on various elements of the course.  There may be some attendance requirements in relation to the seminars.  Students will have some choice as to the relative weighting of each assessment component.  Students should check the course outline for future information about the means of assessment, including the relationship between the assessment and the learning outcomes of the course.

This course will invllve weekly 2-hour lectures, and the attendance of a least 5 1-hour seminars in addition to presenting a 1-hour seminar during the semester.  Students are expected to devote approximately 10 hours overall per week to this course.

Completed or completing five LAWS courses at 1000 level.

There are no prescribed texts for this course.  Extensive materials will be provided on the course Wattle site.  Students should consult thec course outline for recommended texts and other reading.

Students are asked to make sure they have read the cdourse outline prior to the first lecture.  This is no other required preliminary reading for this course.

Students must be able to access lecture and seminar notes using Wattle.

Intellectual Property is generally regarded as an important course within a law degree which has a commercial law specialisation.  However, because it deals with property rights in information and expression, it has a broad utility and should be equally stimulating for students interested in the arts, cultural studies and legal theory.  Similarly, the international aspects of Intellectual Property bring with it important issues in international trade and development.  Intellectual Property also plays a direct role in regulating innovation and would be of interest to those with an information technology or science background.