Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 2, 2025 (28/07/2025 - 22/11/2025)
- Study level
- Postgraduate Coursework
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Law School
This course is an introductory level examination of intellectual property law. It commences by examining the overarching international treaties that create a common global architecture for the domestic laws that exist in nearly all jurisdictions. The course, by recourse to not only Australian, but also extensive international legislative and case law examples, then seeks to develop students' understanding of the various forms of IP protection including copyright, passing off, trademarks, designs, patents, confidential information, circuit layout and plant breeders rights. The course will focus on subject matter that is protected, the pre-conditions for protection, the nature of infringement, and the remedies for infringement.
Intellectual property is a significant area of legal study and a domain that plays a central role in regulating most modern economies. In order to understand intellectual property it is important to place this legal field within the broader historical, social and political framework within which it has developed over the past several centuries. This course provides that context and, in doing so, also provides a broad survey of the field. The primary focus will be on copyright, trade marks, and patents, but we will also examine other topics as well, such as data rights and database protections, passing off, geographical indications, and cultural property.
The first half of the course will focus on Australian legislation and case law, while placing this firmly within a contemporary international context. This will enable students to identify what kinds of intangible assets can receive protection, what the varied protections entail, as well as when these rights arise, who or what entities are assigned these rights, how they are enforced, and the conceptual basis for each type of right.ﾠ
In the second half of the course we will explore how intellectual property has proven remarkably robust in adapting to and engaging with diverse social, scientific, and technological change. For example, increasingly affordable internconnected communications technologies have brought forth novel issues in copyright law, whereas, changing scientific paradigms in biology have triggered questions around subject matter under patent law.
By successfully completing the course, a student will obtain a useful 'toolkit' upon which they can build in-practice expertise and/or the foundations for detailed future study.
Course requirements
Recommended prerequisites
We recommend completing the following courses before enrolling in this one:
LAWS7023
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
LAWS7029
Restrictions
LLM, MICLaw, MBus, GCBus. Quota: Minimum of 12 enrolments.
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
The course will run on Wednesdays from 5-8pm in Weeks 4-7 and 10-13.
Aims and outcomes
Teaching Mission Statement
The mission of the TC Beirne School of Law is to educate students in and about the law. We seek to assist you to think critically about the law and to investigate its structures, principles, policies, and values. This is achieved by engaging with you as fellow investigators in a range of critical and intellectual conversations about the law and its place in society. Our role is thus to guide you in your own intellectual journey in the law and to equip you with the necessary skills that will enable you to continue that journey long after you have left the School.
Course Aims
The course aims to provide a substantial broadening and deepening of students' grasp of the main areas of intellectual property, which include patents, copyright, trademarks, passing off, registered designs and confidential information, which they may have touched on more briefly in their undergraduate studies.
After completing this course, students will also be better prepared to undertake more specialised study in any of the areas covered.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Demonstrate a good working understanding of the broad field of intellectual property, which will provide the foundations for more specialised study.
LO2.
Clearly understand the international framework within which domestic intellectual property law functions.
LO3.
Understand and articulate the conceptual underpinnings and tensions within many areas of intellectual property.
LO4.
Articulate the key legislative and caselaw features of Australian intellectual property law, in particular copyright, marks, patents, designs and confidential information.
LO5.
Effectively use both hardcopy and electronic sources of law to research often complex legal problems.
LO6.
Communicate effectively, both in written and oral form, whether in a work or academic environment, such that the knowledge and skills acquired in the course can be effectively used.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quiz |
Weekly Comprehension Quizzes
|
20% |
27/08/2025 - 29/10/2025 |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Essay/ Critique |
Research Paper
|
40% |
Topic selection & annotated bibliography due 12/09/2025 5:00 pm Final paper due 10/10/2025 5:00 pm |
| Examination |
End-of-Semester Examination
|
40% |
End of Semester Exam Period 8/11/2025 - 22/11/2025 |
Assessment details
Weekly Comprehension Quizzes
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Quiz
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
27/08/2025 - 29/10/2025
- Other conditions
- Time limited.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04
Task description
Online quizzes will be given each week during class from the second through the eighth seminar meeting - for a total of 7 quizzes (no quiz will be given at the first seminar meeting). Each quiz will consists of 5 true/false and multiple-choice questions. Questions will be based on the assigned readings and lectures for that week. Students will have 15 minutes to complete the quiz and can use their reading, notes, class slides, and other materials.
Answers will be discussed during the class immediately after the quiz has ended. Your lowest three quiz scores will be dropped in calculating your overall score for this piece of assessment. Any missed quizzes due to absences for any reason will be counted as zero.
The purpose of the quizzes will be to assess a student's attendance and engagement during course seminars, as well as their understanding of material. They will also help the instructor understand student progress and address any gaps that become apparent.
This assessment task is to be completed in-person. The use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI or MT may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
Research Paper
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Essay/ Critique
- Weight
- 40%
- Due date
Topic selection & annotated bibliography due 12/09/2025 5:00 pm
Final paper due 10/10/2025 5:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06
Task description
Students will be provided with a set of questions from which they must select one that will serve as the basis for a 2000 word research paper. The questions will be released to the course website after the first seminar.
In preparing for the research paper, students will be expected to confirm which research topic they have selected and submit an annotated bibliography of 5 relevant sources approximately one month before the due date (see due dates). Examples of an annotated bibliography will be provided on the course website.
A word count must appear on the front page of your work. Words in excess of the limit will not be read or taken into account in marking. The word limit does not include footnotes or bibliography. However, substantive material should appear in the body of the essay and footnotes should only be used for citational purposes.
Please note: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) are emerging tools that may support students in completing this assessment task. Students may appropriately use AI and/or MT in completing this assessment task. Students must clearly reference any use of AI or MT in each instance.
A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Assignments must be submitted electronically via the online assessment submission link on the course Blackboard site.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Extension to Assessment Due Date
An extension for an assessment item due within the teaching period in which the course is offered will generally be limited to one week in the first instance. In exceptional circumstances, approved extensions may be granted for more than one week but will not exceed four weeks in total. Where a student is incapacitated for a period exceeding four weeks of the teaching period, they should be advised to apply for removal of course.
A student may apply for an extension to assessment due date if they are unable to meet an assessment deadline due to extenuating circumstances. Please refer to the Applying for an extension page on my.UQ for further details on acceptable reasons for an extension and for instructions on how to apply. Additional information on extensions can be found within the Assessment Procedure .
Spoken or written notification of difficulties with assessment deadlines to a course coordinator or the School does not constitute an authorised extension.
Applications to be submitted before the due date: Applications for extension (whether they be medical or exceptional circumstances) shall be made by the due date and time for the assessment. Requests for extensions received after the assessment item submission due date and time, must include evidence of the reason for the late request, and will require the decision maker listed in the Student Grievance Resolution Procedure to accept the request for consideration.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Penalties for Late Submission
The following penalties apply to late submission of an assessment item, assuming that an extension has not been approved, and that late submission is academically possible (e.g., it does not delay feedback to a cohort, or interfere with course delivery).
First 7 periods of 24 hours (or part thereof) - 10% per 24 hours of the maximum possible mark for the assessment item. For example, a report worth a maximum of 40 marks, submitted 28 hours late will attract a penalty of 8 marks, calculated as 2 periods of 24 hours x 10% x 40 marks.
More than 7 periods of 24 hours - 100%.
End-of-Semester Examination
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Examination
- Weight
- 40%
- Due date
End of Semester Exam Period
8/11/2025 - 22/11/2025
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06
Task description
This exam will consist of multiple choice, true/false, and short essay questions. The exam will be open book/open notes and students may refer to any additional written or printed materials. This includes dictionaries, texts, class slides, as well as your own notes and annotations.
The exam will address all topics covered during the course (mandatory readings and resources, as well as lecture content).
The exam will be centrally scheduled by the University during the Exam Period. More details in relation to this piece of assessment will be made available to students during the course.
Please note: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) are emerging tools that may support students in completing this assessment task. Students may appropriately use AI and/or MT in completing this assessment task. Students must clearly reference any use of AI or MT in each instance.
A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Exam details
| Planning time | 10 minutes |
|---|---|
| Duration | 120 minutes |
| Calculator options | No calculators permitted |
| Open/closed book | Open book examination - any written or printed material is permitted; material may be annotated |
| Exam platform | Inspera |
| Invigilation | Not invigilated |
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 0 - 19 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 2 (Fail) | 20 - 47 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 48 - 49 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Multiple weeks From Week 4 To Week 13 |
Seminar |
Seminars The programme of seminars is set out in the Course Learning Guide. This is available from the course Blackboard site. Topics covered during seminars will include:
Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L06 |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments for Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.
School guidelines
Your school has additional guidelines you'll need to follow for this course: