Selected Issues in Intellectual Property Law (PG)

Postgraduate | 2026

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Area/Catalogue
LAWS 5025
Course ID icon
Course ID
207428
Level of study
Level of study
Postgraduate
Unit value icon
Unit value
6
Course level icon
Course level
5
Study abroad and student exchange icon
Inbound study abroad and exchange
Inbound study abroad and exchange
The fee you pay will depend on the number and type of courses you study.
No
University-wide elective icon
University-wide elective course
No
Single course enrollment
Single course enrolment
No
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Note:
Course data is interim and subject to change

Course overview

The course will examine current issues in intellectual property focussing on the following: private international law and the exploitation and enforcement of intellectual property in a digital world; database rights - copyright and sui generis regimes of protection; geographical indications in trade mark law; the protection of personal information; the international debate concerning protection of traditional knowledge, genetic resources and traditional cultural expressions; and legal and ethical issues surrounding patents in biotechnology.

Course learning outcomes

  • Have a good understanding of a range of current issues that affect IP law and policy in Australia
  • Have a good understanding of the international context of the operation of the various regimes regulating IP rights
  • Be able to critically appraise the intellectual property system and evaluate proposals for reform in a domestic and international context
  • Understand the policy issues surrounding the competing interests of intellectual property owners, creators and the broader public
  • Be able to present a current IP issue for evaluation and critique in a seminar context
  • Be able to recognise and apply intellectual property issues raised in novel contexts and to develop a sustained original research project on an identified topic
  • Understand the law relating to those issues and be able to identify and cite relevant primary sources of law (legislation and cases) and secondary sources (academic writing); and 8. be able to demonstrate high level critical thinking and problem solving skills

Prerequisite(s)

N/A

Corequisite(s)

N/A

Antirequisite(s)

N/A