General Course Information
1.1 Course details
| Course code: | LLAW3302 / LSCI3001 |
| Course name: | Patent Law |
| Programme offered under: | LLB Programme / BSc&LLB Programme |
| Semester: | Second |
| Designated research course: | Not applicable |
| Specialization: | No |
| Pre-requisite / Co-requisite: | No |
| Course offered to non-law students: | No |
| Credit point value: | 6 credits |
[Note: for BSc&LLB students take this course as Interdisciplinary Core Course, please make sure you are enroll with the course code LSCI3001.]
1.2 Course description
Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) are among the most important catalysts for growth and innovation in the modern economy. IPRs – in particular patents – are worth billions if not trillions of dollars. What are patents and why are they so valuable? This course will look at patents, first in the context of all IPRs, then will examine rights under a patent, criteria for patentability, and the process of getting and challenging a patent. The class will also cover issues related to patent claims and will explore contemporary patent policy issues.
No prior technical knowledge is required for this class.
1.3 Course teachers
| Name | E-mail address | Office | Consultation | |
| Course convenor | Ryan Whalen | whalen@hku.hk | CCT 815 | By email |
Learning Outcomes
2.1 Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs) for this course
CLO 1 Understand the requirements for obtaining a patent.
CLO 2 Understand the patent prosecution process.
CLO 3 Learn about how patent infringement analysis is conducted.
CLO 4 Have practical knowledge of how to manage and employ patent rights.
CLO 5 Be aware of some of the cutting edge policy considerations in patent law.
2.2 LLB Programme Learning Outcomes (PLOs)
Please refer to the following link: https://course.law.hku.hk/llb-plo/
2.3 Programme Learning Outcomes to be achieved in this course
| PLO A | PLO B | PLO C | PLO D | PLO E | PLO F | |
| CLO 1 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| CLO 2 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| CLO 3 | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| CLO 4 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| CLO 5 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Assessment(s)
3.1 Assessment Summary
| Assessment task | Weighting | Feedback method* | Course learning outcomes |
| Class performance and patent policy news | 15% | 1, 3 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
| Patend drafting exercise | 35% | 1, 2, 3, 5 | 1, 2, 3, 4 |
| In-hall exam | 50% | 1, 3 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
| *Feedback method (to be determined by course teacher) | |
| 1 | A general course report to be disseminated through Moodle |
| 2 | Individual feedback to be disseminated by email / through Moodle |
| 3 | Individual review meeting upon appointment |
| 4 | Group review meeting |
| 5 | In-class verbal feedback |
3.2 Assessment Detail
To be advised by course convenor(s).
3.3 Grading Criteria
Please refer to the following link: https://www.law.hku.hk/_files/law_programme_grade_descriptors.pdf
Learning Activities
4.1 Learning Activity Plan
| Seminar | 3 hours / week for 11 teaching weeks |
| Private study time: | 9.5 hours / week for 11 teaching weeks |
Remarks: the normative student study load per credit unit is 25 ± 5 hours (ie. 150 ± 30 hours for a 6-credit course), which includes all learning activities and experiences within and outside of classroom, and any assessment task and examinations and associated preparations.
4.2 Details of Learning Activities
To be advised by course convenor(s).
Learning Resources
5.1 Resources
| Reading materials: | Reading materials are posted on Moodle |
| Core reading list: | TBA |
| Recommended reading list: | TBA |
5.2 Links
Please refer to the following link: http://www.law.hku.hk/course/learning-resources/