Intellectual Property Law

This course provides an overview of the different regimes of Intellectual Property law including trademarks, copyright, design, and patents, with a focus on how these laws can be adapted and utilised to promote social, global, and climate justice. The course will provide students with the knowledge and skills they need to advise clients about the legal options available to protect creative effort. Students will consider how Intellectual Property laws attempt to balance competing public and private interests such as the encouragement of innovation versus the encouragement of knowledge transfer and competition. Students will critically analyse how Intellectual Property laws can be leveraged to support the development and dissemination of technologies and creative works that contribute to social equity, global health, and environmental sustainability. They will also examine how these laws can be reformed to better serve marginalised communities, promote access to essential resources and technologies, and encourage the creation of sustainable and socially responsible innovations. By researching the different Intellectual Property regimes, students will be equipped to determine how they can be used to protect hypothetical creative effort. They will undertake searches of Intellectual Property databases and draft applications and legal documents to obtain appropriate protection. By the end of the course, students will be equipped with a comprehensive understanding of Intellectual Property law and its potential to drive positive social change, as well as the practical skills needed to advise clients and shape the future of this dynamic field in a manner that promotes justice and sustainability.