General Course Information
1.1 Course details
| Course code: | LLAW6132 / JDOC6132 |
| Course name: | International and Comparative Intellectual Property Law |
| Programme offered under: | LLM Programme / JD Programme |
| Semester: | Second |
| Prerequisites / Co-requisites: | No |
| Credit point value: | 9 credits / 6 credits |
1.2 Course description
This course introduces the international framework within which intellectual property law operates, including copyright, patents, trademarks, industrial designs, unfair competition, trade secrets, geographic indications and other forms of intellectual property (IP). The course examines how multilateral conventions and agreements such as Berne Convention, Paris Convention and TRIPS Agreement shape national IP laws, the role of international bodies such as WIPO and WTO, the effect of bilateral agreements, and other international influences on the development of IP law. The course also introduces the enforcement provisions and WTO dispute settlement mechanism concerning international IP disputes. While devoting special attention to IPRs protection for cutting edge technologies such as biotechnology and information technology, the course also discusses the protection for traditional knowledge and folklore, and the overall implications of international IP protection for global competition between developed and developing countries in an integrated world market.
1.3 Course teachers
| Name | E-mail address | Office | Consultation | |
| Course convenor | Yahong Li | yali@hku.hk | CCT 407 | By email |
Learning Outcomes
2.1 Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs) for this course
CLO 1 understand the emergence and justifications of international IP system, and the application of the major principles of international IP laws such as national treatment and territoriality.
CLO 2 identify the major differences and commonalities between common law and civil law, as well as between national laws, concerning IP protection and enforcement.
CLO 3 have a sound knowledge about how international IP laws shaped national IP laws, particularly through TRIPS Agreement and WTO dispute settlements.
CLO 4 engage in academic and policy debates about the role of international IP system in technology advancement, public interest, and social development.
2.2 LLM and JD Programme Learning Outcomes (PLOs)
Please refer to the following link:
LLM – https://course.law.hku.hk/llm-plo/
JD – https://course.law.hku.hk/jd-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 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Assessment(s)
3.1 Assessment Summary
| Assessment task | Due date | Weighting | Feedback method* | Course learning outcomes |
| Research paper | TBC | 100% | 1 | 1, 2, 3 |
| *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 12 teaching weeks |
| Private study time: | 9.5 hours / week for 12 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/