Leader: Professor Ann Monotti / Mr Raymond Hind

Offered

City (Melbourne) Term 3 2008 (On-campus block of classes)
City (Melbourne) Trimester 3 2008 (On-campus block of classes)

Synopsis

* The Australian patent system.

• History and rationale of the patent system.
• The concept of invention; the requirements for patentability; patent application procedure.
• The drafting of claims; the enforcement, maintenance and exploitation of patents, and the international patent system.
• The relationship between patent and trade secrets protection, and the relationship between patent and plant breeders' rights protection.

Objectives

Students who successfully complete this unit should

• Have an enhanced appreciation of the policies and objectives underlying the laws of patents and confidential information
• Be in a position to comment critically on those policies and objectives and to relate them to current proposals for law reform
• Have developed a detailed knowledge of the subject matter that is eligible for protection under these laws, the requirements for obtaining such protection and its scope, once obtained
• Be in a position to provide detailed and comprehensive advice to inventors, enterprises and other persons engaged in the process of innovation on their rights and liabilities under these laws; and
• Have a sound understanding of the operation and application of the rules governing the international protection of patents for inventions and allied rights.
• Meet the requirements of the Professional Standards Board for Patent and Trade Marks Attorneys in relation to Patent Law (topic group E).

Assessment

Research assignment (3,750 words): 50%
Take home exam (3,750 words): 50% OR Supervised exam (2.5 hours): 50%