UNSW Handbook Course - Intellectual Property Law and Innovation

Intellectual Property Law and Innovation - LAWS8046


	Faculty: Faculty of Law
	School: Faculty of Law
	Course Outline: See below
	Campus: Kensington Campus
	Career: Postgraduate
	Units of Credit: 6
	EFTSL: 0.12500 (more info)
	Indicative Contact Hours per Week: 2
	Enrolment Requirements:
	Prerequisite: Academic Program must be 5265
	CSS Contribution Charge:Band 3 (more info)
	Tuition Fee:See Tuition Fee Schedule
	Further Information: See Class Timetable

Description

This course provides a practical overview of the legal regulation of innovation. Its primary focus is on the role of Australian and international intellectual property law, especially the laws of copyright, designs, patents, trade marks and related rights, in rewarding and protecting innovations in both product appearance and function. The course also locates this discussion of legal regulation within a broader framework of innovation strategy, government policy and international trade. It will be of particular interest to those with an interest in the workings of the cultural, scientific and technology industries, both in Australia and internationally.

LAWS8046 is compulsory for Graduate Diploma in Applied Intellectual Property students, unless an exemption is obtained from the Program Director, based on previous study of intellectual property law or comparable work experience.

Recommended Prior Knowledge

No prior knowledge is required

Course Objectives

A candidate who has successfully completed this course should:

Have a clear understanding of the operation of, and relationships between, the various branches of the law that impact on the protection of innovation
Be able to define and understand the law regulating innovation within the broader context of government policy and innovation strategy
Be able to demonstrate a practical understanding of the above by successfully completing one or more problem question exercises, as well as presenting clear, cogent argued written arguments in a research essay.

Main Topics

Introduction: what is innovation law?
Government strategies and their relationship with the law
Protecting innovation as trade secrets
Protecting innovation through patent law
Protecting innovation through copyright law
Protecting designs
Branding law
Sui generis legal regimes
International protection of innovation
Innovation strategies: commercialisation and IP management issues

Assessment

Class participation		20% (maximisable)
Problem Question(s)	(approx. 3,000 words)	50%
Research essay	(approx. 3,000 words)	50%

Course Texts

Prescribed
W. van Caenegem, Intellectual Property Law and Innovation (Melbourne: Cambridge University Press, 2007)

Recommended
L. Bently and B. Sherman, Intellectual Property (3rd ed) (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009)
W. Cornish and D. Llewelyn, Intellectual Property: Patents, Copyright, Trade Marks and Allied Rights (6th ed) (London: Sweet & Maxwell, 2007)
M. Davison et al, Australian Intellectual Property Law (Melbourne: Cambridge University Press, 2008)
M. Leiboff, Creative Practice and the Law (Sydney: Thomson Lawbook Co, 2007)
J. McKeough et al, Intellectual Property in Australia (3rd ed) (Sydney: LexisNexis Butterworths, 2004)
S. Ricketson et al, Intellectual Property: Cases, Materials and Commentary (4thed) (Sydney: LexisNexis Butterworths, 2008)

Resources

Refer to the course outline which will be provided by the lecturer at the beginning of the relevant semester.