Postgraduate - UnitLAW5425 - Current issues in copyright

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2015 only. For students planning to study the unit, please 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 or area of study.

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6 points, SCA Band 3, 0.125 EFTSL

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

Level	Postgraduate
Faculty	Faculty of Law
Offered	Not offered in 2015

Quota applies

Postgraduate programs are based on a model of small group teaching and therefore class sizes need to be restricted.

Synopsis

Current Issues in Copyright requires no prior copyright knowledge: the introduction to the course will be taught lecture style to provide foundational principles for newcomers to the field and a refresher for those who already have some familiarity with copyright law. The remainder of the unit will be conducted seminar-style. Readings for each topic will be assigned in advance, and students will contribute short position papers in response throughout the semester. Courteous debate probing all sides of the various issues and identification of the underlying assumptions and value judgments will be encouraged.
The unit focuses on topics of current controversy. Topics that have been dealt with in the past include orphan works, large-scale consumer infringement, ISP copyright policing and graduated response laws, user rights and exceptions, the politics of piracy and 'bitroots' activism and anti-circumvention law.
Student input into the development of the curriculum is encouraged. If you wish to propose a particular issue for inclusion within the subject in any given year, please email the lecturer with your suggestion as early as possible.

Outcomes

On completion of this unit students will be able to:

Apply knowledge and understanding of recent developments in relation to national and international copyright law and policy with creativity and initiative to new situations in professional practice and/or for further learning
Investigate, analyse and synthesise complex information, problems, concepts and theories in relation to current issues in copyright, relate them to proposals for law reform and critically evaluate their likely impact upon current policy challenges
Conduct research into current issues in national and international copyright law and policy based on knowledge of appropriate research principles and methods
Use cognitive, technical and creative skills to generate and evaluate at an abstract level complex ideas and concepts relevant to Current Issues in Copyright.

Assessment

Three short position papers during semester (1500 words each, 3 x 20%): 60%
In-class presentations of position papers (3 x 10%): 30%.
General class participation: 10%

Workload requirements

Students enrolled in this unit will be provided with 24 contact hours of seminars per semester whether intensive, semi-intensive, or semester-long offering. Students will be expected to do reading set for class, and to undertake additional research and reading applicable to a 6 credit point unit.