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%
