Course

Foundations of Intellectual Property Law - LAWS3021

Faculty: Faculty of Law

School: Faculty of Law

Course Outline: See below

Campus: Sydney

Career: Undergraduate

Units of Credit: 6

EFTSL: 0.12500 (more info)

Indicative Contact Hours per Week: 3

Enrolment Requirements:

Pre-requisite: Equity & Trusts (LAWS2385/JURD7285) OR Property & Equity 1 (LAWS2381/JURD7281). Co-requisite: Resolving Civil Disputes (LAWS2371/JURD7271) OR Litigation 1 (LAWS2311/JURD7211).

Equivalent: LAWS3046

CSS Contribution Charge: 3 (more info)

Tuition Fee: See Tuition Fee Schedule

Further Information: See Class Timetable

View course information for previous years.

Description

This course introduces students to the law of copyright (including moral rights), registered designs, trade marks, passing off, s.18 of Sch.2 Australian Consumer Law (Competition and Consumer Act 2010 , formerly s.52 Trade Practices Act 1974), breach of confidence, and patents. Students will study the fundamental statutory provisions and common law principles that define the subject matter protected by these doctrines, as well as the pre-conditions for protection and the nature of infringement. They will learn how to approach practical intellectual property problems, and will gain insight into the interrelationships between intellectual property’s various doctrines.

The course aims to build solid foundations for lawyers not specialising in intellectual property, as well as those who might later undertake further studies to specialise in this area of law.

This course is a pre-requisite for LAWS3057 Advanced Intellectual Property Policy and Practice.

Enrolment Requirements

This course is designed for students wishing to gain an integrated understanding and working knowledge of the core principles of intellectual property law’s main doctrines in a single course. It aims to build solid foundations for lawyers not specialising in intellectual property, as well as those who might later undertake further studies to specialise in this area of law.

Students wishing to study intellectual property’s various doctrines in more technical depth should consider taking either:
* This course, LAWS3021 Foundations of Intellectual Property Law, plus further intellectual property studies (such as the LLB/JD elective LAWS3057/JURD7357 Advanced Intellectual Property Policy and Practice, or postgraduate studies in intellectual property law); or
* LAWS3046 Intellectual Property 1 and LAWS3248 Intellectual Property 2 (instead of LAWS3021 Foundations of Intellectual Property Law)

PLEASE NOTE: Students will not be permitted to study LAWS3021 Foundations of Intellectual Property Law and LAWS3046 Intellectual Property 1 and/or LAWS3248 Intellectual Property 2.

LAWS3021 Foundations of Intellectual Property Law is an elective subject usually taken in year 4 or 5 of a full time LLB degree, or year 2 or 3 of a full time JD degree (or part time/accelerated equivalent).

Recommended Prior Knowledge

Completion of LAWS2381 Property, Equity and Trusts 1 or LAWS2385 Equity and Trusts.

Exclusions

LAWS3046 Intellectual Property 1
LAWS3248 Intellectual Property 2

Course Objectives

The general aims of this course are to:
  • Develop skills in understanding the complexities of intellectual property law.
  • Critique major doctrinal, theoretical and policy arguments relating to the various categories of intellectual property.
  • Foster debate about the adequacy of the current state of intellectual property law.
  • Canvass ways in which the law might be improved.
On the completion of study of each area students should be able to:
  • Effectively identify the kind and type of intellectual property problem presented.
  • Locate the relevant statutory provisions.
  • Discuss difficulties that may arise in application.
  • Identify potential for further law reform.
  • Be aware of the practical limits of statute and litigation in resolving intellectual property disputes.
  • Note the commercial conditions that lead to particular outcomes.

Main Topics

  • Copyright
  • Confidential information
  • s.18 of Sch.2 Australian Consumer Law (Competition and Consumer Act 2010, formerly s.52 Trade Practices Act 1974)
  • Passing off
  • Trade marks
  • Designs
  • Patents

Assessment

The assessment scheme has been designed to suit the intensive method of delivery of this course. Students must complete one option from Group A and one option from Group B. If you complete more than one option from Group A and/or B, the higher mark from that group will be counted. It is optional whether you include Group C (Class Participation); if you do, the result will be maximizable.

Group A
These assessment tasks test your knowledge from the first part of the course. It is compulsory to choose an option from this group.
Each task is worth 40% if counting CP or 50% if not counting CP, but only one task from Group A may be counted towards your final result.
- Problem Question 1 - 2, 500 words - question distributed during course, electronic submission of answer due Friday 10 January 2014
and/or
- Class test 1 – 60 mins - Monday 9 December 2013.

Group B
These assessment tasks test your knowledge from the second part of the course. It is compulsory to choose an option from this group.
Each task is worth 40% if counting CP or 50% if not counting CP, but only one task from Group B may be counted towards your final result.
- Problem Question 2 - 2, 500 words – question distributed during course, electronic submission of answer due Friday 10 January 2014
and/or
- Class test 2 – 60 mins – Tuesday 10 December 2013
and/or
- Research essay; 3,000 words on a question chosen by the student and approved by the lecturer; suitable to count towards Honours – electronic submission due Friday 10 January 2014.

Group C
Class participation (‘CP’) is worth 20% and it is optional and maximizable. It will comprise an attendance component and a component assessing your contribution in class.

Course Texts

You are not required to purchase a particular textbook, however use of a recommended text is advisable. You will be given more information about recommended texts on the first day of class.

Resources

Students who wish to start reading ahead before the course begins should look at the introductory chapter of a current intellectual property text book.
Science

Study Levels

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