courses

3374

18 September 2017 17 April 2024
Monash University

Postgraduate - Course

Students who commenced study in 2014 should refer to this course entry for direction on the requirements; to check which units are currently available for enrolment, refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course.

print version

This course entry applies to students commencing this course in 2014 and should be read in conjunction with information provided in the 'Faculty information' section of this Handbook by the Faculty of Law

Managing facultyLaw
Abbreviated titleMasterIntPropLaw
CRICOS code038584B
Total credit points required48
Standard duration of study (years)1 year FT, 4 years PT
Study mode and locationOn-campus (City (Melbourne))
Admission, fee and application details http://www.monash.edu/study/coursefinder/course/3374
Contact details

Tel: 1800 MONASH (1800 666 274) or visit http://www.law.monash.edu.au/

Course coordinator

Associate Professor Moira Paterson

Notes

  • Unit codes that are not linked to their entry in the Handbook are not available for study in the current year.

Description

This course provides advanced offerings in intellectual property law for both graduates in law and graduates in disciplines other than law. The extensive range of units enables students to develop and enhance their knowledge across the breadth of intellectual property subject matter, including copyright, trade marks, patents for inventions, confidential information and designs, or to pursue some selected areas in greater depth. A number of units have accreditation from the Professional Standards Board for Patent and Trade Marks Attorneys and their completion enables students to satisfy all the knowledge requirements for registration as a trade marks or patent attorney. Therefore, this program is especially attractive for those who seek to develop or expand a career in this area and gain a postgraduate qualification at the same time. The graduate program focuses upon both a thorough grounding in the fundamental principles of intellectual property law and its practical application as well as addressing advanced and current issues from both a local and international perspective.

Outcomes

The course objectives are those primarily defined by the Professional Standards Board for Patent and Trade Marks Attorneys. Upon successful completion of the course students will have acquired:

  • a detailed understanding of the Australian trade marks and patent and designs systems
  • an understanding of the required standard of professional conduct of trade marks and patent attorneys
  • an understanding of the Australian legal system
  • an overview of intellectual and industrial property and an understanding of the ways in which such property may be protected in Australia
  • an understanding of the rights, privileges and responsibilities of trade marks and patent attorneys
  • an understanding of the principles of trade marks, patents and designs systems in Australia
  • an ability to advise and handle the interests of a client in relation to the prosecution and maintenance of trade mark, patent and design applications
  • knowledge of further legal subjects relevant to trade mark, patent and design law and practice.

Professional recognition

The knowledge requirements for registration as a Patent Attorney or a Trade Marks Attorney in Australia with the Australian Government's Professional Standards Board for Patent and Trade Marks Attorneys can be fulfilled by units available within the intellectual property specialisation. Further information on registration is available on the Professional Standards BoardProfessional Standards Board (http://www.psb.gov.au) website.

Structure

The course comprises eight 6-point coursework units or a combination of coursework units and a minor thesis.

Areas of study

Requirements

Students must complete one of the following options:

  • a minimum of five coursework units in the area of intellectual property law. The remaining coursework units may be taken from the approved list of law units.
  • four coursework units with at least one unit in the area of intellectual property law and a minor thesis of 25,000-30,000 words on an approved topic in the area.
  • six coursework units with at least three units in the area of intellectual property law and a minor thesis of 12,000-15,000 words on an approved topic in the area.

In order to qualify to undertake one of the minor thesis options, a student must have achieved a minimum of 70 per cent in each of the coursework units undertaken. Information on the minor thesis option is available on the Enrolment guidelines and process for postgraduate minor thesisEnrolment guidelines and process for postgraduate minor thesis (http://www.law.monash.edu.au/current-students/enrolments/enrolment-guidelines-pg-minor-thesis.html) webpage.

Refer to the 'Areas of study' for more information on units available.

Additional course requirements and recommendation:

  • Domestic students with a degree in a discipline other than law will be required to complete the unit LAW7212 Australian legal system.
  • International students and those with a law degree from a non-Australian jurisdiction must complete the unit LAW7436 Australian legal process and research.

Not all units may be available in every year. Further information is available on the faculty website regarding law units and specialisationslaw units and specialisations (http://www.law.monash.edu.au/postgraduate/units-overview.html) and the current postgraduate law timetablecurrent postgraduate law timetable (http://www.law.monash.edu.au/current-students/course-unit-information/timetables/postgraduate/index.html).

Alternative exit(s)

Students may exit with Graduate Diploma in Law providing all requirements for that award have been met.

Award(s)

Master of Intellectual Property Law