Master of Intellectual Property and Communications Law

This expert graduate course provides a thorough theoretical and practical grounding in the laws regulating intellectual property regimes and the broader field of communications, and develops the advanced professional skills and specialist knowledge required for work in this complex and dynamic field. It is suitable for graduates interested developing or enhancing specialist careers in intellectual property and communications law, including careers within media organisations and the public sector.

Students investigate contemporary issues in law, practice and scholarship, and evaluate complex issues relevant to the field from theoretical, international and interdisciplinary perspectives. The course enhances students' capacity to undertake independent research, and includes options for a pathway to doctoral studies.

These course outcomes are aligned with the Australian Qualifications Framework level 9, the Bologna Cycle 2 and Monash Graduate AttributesAustralian Qualifications Framework level 9, the Bologna Cycle 2 and Monash Graduate Attributes (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/handbooks/alignmentofoutcomes.html).

Graduates of the course will be able to:

1. demonstrate mastery of theoretical knowledge of, and recent developments in, the laws and regulatory frameworks applicable to intellectual property and communications
2. apply theories, knowledge and skills to different aspects of the laws applicable to intellectual property and communications or to new situations in practice or scholarship in those fields
3. design, evaluate, implement, analyse and theorise about developments that contribute to global professional practice or scholarship
4. explain and justify arguments, methods, and conclusions to legal and lay audiences
5. apply with integrity appropriate research principles and methods to plan, carry out and report on an original project
6. demonstrate high level personal autonomy and judgment.

Students may be eligible for credit for up to 50 per cent of the course (24 points) for masters level studies in law.

Monash Law School is accredited by the Professional Standards Board for Patent and Trade Marks Attorneys to teach and offer some units that satisfy knowledge requirements for registration as a trade marks or a patent attorney.

The course is structured in two parts. Part A: Intellectual property and communications law knowledge and Part B: Extending specialist knowledge electives and research.

Part A: Intellectual Property and communications law knowledge

These studies enable you to develop specialised knowledge and advanced skills in areas of Intellectual property and communications law that suit your interests, skills and career goals.

Part B: Extending specialist knowledge electives and research

These studies will provide you with in-depth knowledge of a wide range of areas of intellectual property and communications law or you can select from across the range of Masters law elective units. You will focus on sources of information relevant to intellectual property and communications law and the application of research methods and specialist discipline knowledge and skills necessary to support work in this field. Depending on your interests and motivation, you can choose a program of study in which you plan and execute a major research-based project with a high level of personal autonomy and accountability.

The course comprises 48 points structured into two parts: Part A Knowledge of Intellectual property and communications law (30 points) and Part B: Extending specialist knowledge electives and research (18 points).

The course progression mapcourse progression map (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2016handbooks/maps/map-l6003.pdf) will assist you to plan to meet the course requirements, and guidance on unit enrolment for each semester of study.

Units are 6 credit points unless otherwise stated.

Part A. Intellectual property and communications law knowledge (30 points)

Students complete a. and b. below:

a. the following unit:

• LAW5080 Australian legal system or LAW5081 Australian legal process and research*

b. a minimum of four units chosen from the units listed below:**

• LAW5301 Copyright
• LAW5305 International trade law
• LAW5312 Competition law
• LAW5315 Commercial alternative dispute resolution
• LAW5316 Trade marks and commercial designations
• LAW5317 Principles of privacy and freedom of information
• LAW5321 Protecting commercial innovation: Patents and trade secrets
• LAW5325 Defamation law
• LAW5336 Law of the internet
• LAW5340 Intellectual property
• LAW5353 Cybercrime
• LAW5431 International entertainment law
• LAW5448 Copyright X: Monash

* LAW5081 is required for all international students and those students with a law degree from a non-Australian jurisdiction.

** Not all units are offered every year.

Part B. Extending specialist knowledge electives and research (18 points)

Students complete 18 points across a. and b. below:

a. 6 or 12 points of elective law units. These can be taken from:

• Part A above;
• the list of Intellectual property and communications law electives listed below;
• any unit from the General list of Level 5 law units, excluding those only offered in L6005Master of Laws (Juris Doctor)

b. The remaining 6 or 12 points of research studies in Intellectual property and communications law from the following:

• LAW5082 Masters research (6 points)
• LAW5083 Extended research (12 points)

Note: Students taking the course as a pathway to doctoral studies are advised to take the extended research option.

Intellectual property and communications law electives

Not all units are offered every year.

• LAW5318 International aspects of intellectual property
• LAW5451 Indigenous people and the law
• LAW5352 Electronic workplace law
• LAW5339 Technology contracts and licensing law
• LAW5341 Trade mark practice
• LAW5346 Design law and practice
• LAW5369 World Trade Organization (WTO) law
• LAW5400 International trade mark law
• LAW5425 Current issues in copyright
• LAW5427 Freedom of speech - law theory and policy
• LAW5447 Intellectual property and the internet
• LAW5446 Comparative media law

Students taking the course as a pathway to doctoral studies are advised to take the extended research option which is a pathway to a higher degree by research.

Students may exit this course early and apply to graduate with the following award, provided they have satisfied the requirements indicated for that award during their enrolment in this Masters course:

• Graduate Certificate in Law after successful completion of 24 points of study with a minimum of 18 credit points at level 4 or above.