Undergraduate - UnitLAW5146 - Intellectual property I: copyright and designs

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.

Synopsis

Intellectual property I: copyright and designs focuses on two important forms of intellectual property. Learn why we have copyright law, its international framework, what it covers, whether it exists in any given scenario, whether it has been infringed and the possible consequences of such infringement. Then examine Australia's designs law, which protects the visual appearance of manufactured goods, with a focus on the overlap between copyright and designs protection. Throughout, there will be an emphasis on current legal issues and the relationships between these rights and other parts of IP law.

Outcomes

Upon completion of this unit students should:

1. have an appreciation of the policies and objectives underlying the regimes of intellectual property protection studied;
2. be in a position to comment critically on those policies and objectives and to relate them to proposals for law reform;
3. be in a position to provide basic advice to authors, designers and other creators, as well as users of material created by such persons, as to their rights and liabilities under copyright and designs laws;
4. be in a position to provide basic advice to authors, designers and other creators, as well as users of material created by such persons, on their rights and liabilities under the laws of copyright, designs and breach of confidence;
5. have an appreciation of the basic features of the international rules governing the protection of copyright and designs, circuit layouts and performers;
6. have an appreciation of the impact of technological change on the formulation and protection of the rights studied; and
7. should have enhanced their skills of case analysis and statutory interpretation.

Assessment

Take-home examination: 100%
OR
Assignment (1000 words): 20% and take-home examination: 80%
OR
Assignment (1000 words): 20% and take-home examination: 70% and in-class participation (opt-in): 10%.
OR
Take-home examination: 90% and in-class participation (opt-in): 10%.

Chief examiner(s)

Dr Rebecca Giblin

Contact hours

Three hours of lectures per week

Prerequisites

LAW1100 or LAW1101 and LAW1102 OR LAW1104; LAW3400 or LAW3401 and LAW3402