Leader: Professor Rochelle Dreyfuss

Offered

City (Melbourne) Trimester 2 2008 (On-campus block of classes)

Synopsis

This unit identifies important and contemporary issues in intellectual property law that arise in response to changes in law and technology, international developments and business and other practices. Complex issues which are not covered in units such as Overview of Intellectual Property will be explored at an advanced level and will be drawn from a selection of the principal areas of intellectual property law, including trade marks, copyright, patents, designs, circuit layouts and confidential information. The selection of current issues will incorporate comparative aspects where relevant and may include contemporary complex and controversial developments in Australian jurisprudence.

Objectives

Students who have successfully completed the unit will:

1. Have a detailed knowledge of the law relating to the specific topics that are selected for analysis.
2. Have a thorough understanding of the wider legal, economic and social dimensions associated with those specific topics.
3. Be aware of the limitations of the current law that applies to the relevant issue and of proposals for reform.
4. Understand the relevant issues from a selected comparative perspective.
5. Understand the international aspects that relate to the particular issues.

Assessment

Research Assignment (7,500 words): 100%

Contact hours

The subject is taught over five days, each of six and a half hours duration (breaks included)