General Course Information
1.1 Course details
| Course code: | LLAW6181 and JDOC6181 |
| Course name: | Management and Commercialisation of Intellectual Property |
| 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 is an in-depth exploration of the legal, business, and strategic considerations that underpin the utilization of intellectual property rights across a variety of industries. The course delves into the critical aspects of intellectual property (IP) management, from the creation and protection of IP to its commercial exploitation and enforcement. A key emphasis of the course is the application of relevant principles to real-world situations, covering industries including, but not limited to, information technology, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and music. Attention is paid to the complexities of technology transfer and licensing, where students will gain an understanding of the legal framework that governs the flow of technology and knowledge between different entities. The course also examines the role of collaboration in the development and commercialization of IP. Furthermore, the course discusses how businesses can exercise market power through effective IP enforcement. Students will engage with these topics through the case study method. This method allows students to analyze real-world situations, explore different strategic options, and understand the consequences of various decisions. Upon completion of the course, students will have a solid understanding of the complexities of managing and commercializing IP, be able to apply their knowledge to diverse industrial contexts, and be prepared to contribute effectively to the strategic decisions of organizations in the realm of IP.
1.3 Course teachers
| Name | E-mail address | Office | Consultation | |
| Course convenor | Taorui Guan | trguan@hku.hk | CCT 701 | By email |
Learning Outcomes
2.1 Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs) for this course
CLO 1 Describe and explain the principles and processes underlying the management and commercialization of intellectual property, including the legal, business, and strategic aspects.
CLO 2 Use relevant information about intellectual property rights, technology transfer, licensing, and collaboration to critically examine the opportunities and challenges faced by organizations in different industries.
CLO 3 Apply knowledge and understanding of IP management and commercialization to adapt to new and uncertain situations and problems.
CLO 4 Demonstrate an awareness of the broader impacts of IP management and commercialization within the economic, environmental, and socio-cultural context.
CLO 5 Exhibit the ability to leverage the case study method for complex decision-making in the field of IP management and commercialization.
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 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| CLO 5 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Assessment(s)
3.1 Assessment Summary
| Assessment task | Due date | Weighting | Feedback method* | Course learning outcomes |
| In-class participation | N/A | 20% | 5 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
| Case study essay | TBC | 80% | 1 | 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/