COMLAW 320 : Intellectual Property and Innovation

Business and Economics

2020 Semester Two (1205) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Managers and entrepreneurs need to understand the legal rules governing the protection and commercialisation of innovative ideas and information and their application in business. Topics covered include the role of copyright in a technological society, the importance of secrecy in protecting valuable ideas by way of patents and the common law, and the interaction of contract with elements of intellectual property.

Course Overview

The aim of the course is to develop the ability of students to understand, apply and critically analyse the law relating to the intellectual property in New Zealand. This course is suitable for students seeking to specialise in a range of business disciplines that require a sound understanding of intellectual property law, including strategies to protect, commercialise and manage business information, innovations and product design.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: COMLAW 101 and at least 30 points at Stage II

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 6: Social and Environmental Responsibilities
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Commerce

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate an understanding of the scope, application and interrelation of the various forms of intellectual property within a business environment. (Capability 1 and 4.2)
  2. Identify, analyse and evaluate different strategies for managing innovation (Capability 1, 2, 3 and 4.2)
  3. Identify, analyse and evaluate the ethical, social or environmental impact of commercial decisions to protect or assert intellectual property rights (Capability 2 and 6)
  4. Demonstrate ability to identify potential intellectual property issues (Capability 1, 3 and 4.2)
  5. Evaluate the impact of emerging issues on intellectual property management (Capability 2, 4.2 and 6)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Assignment 30% Individual Coursework
Test 20% Individual Test
Final Exam 50% Individual Examination
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5
Assignment
Test
Final Exam

Workload Expectations

The course is taught through lectures with assessments being the primary mechanism for application of skills learned.
The course involves 152 hours of learning over a single semester including:

-    38 hours of lectures, including 4 workshop hours;
-    24 hours of preparatory readings;
-    86 hours of self-study.

There are three lecture hours per week: one 1-hour lecture and one 2-hour lecture. There are two 2-hour workshops. There are no tutorials for this course.
Office hours will be advised during lectures and times also posted on Canvas.

Learning Resources

Course book
A course book for this course will be available for purchase at the Business School bookshop, Sir Owen G Glenn building, room 062.

Text book (recommended)
Sumpter, P. (2017) Intellectual Property Law: Principles in Practice. Auckland: CCH (3rd ed).

Digital Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website at http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page: https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter (https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html).

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 26/06/2020 11:23 a.m.