General Course Information
1.1 Course details
| Course code: | LLAW6223 / JDOC6223 |
| Course name: | Copyright and Creativity |
| Programme offered under: | LLM Programme / JD Programme |
| Semester: | June |
| Prerequisites / Co-requisites: | No |
| Credit point value: | 9 credits / 6 credits |
1.2 Course description
The course investigates the relationship between copyright protection and creativity by targeting at creative sectors such as film, music, publishing, software/online game, and other emerging tech sectors such as AI and Blockchain. Through in-depth analysis of the cases involving copyright protection or infringement in these industries, the course aims to assess to what extent these sectors have been benefited from or impeded by copyright protection, how “fair use” or fair dealing system can be employed to achieve a better balance between copyright industries and users/consumers of copyrighted works, whether alternative regimes such as public or free licenses including creative commons and open source initiative are helpful in promoting creativity. The course will also critically comment on the copyright law reform in various jurisdictions.
The topics include but not limited to the followings:
- The concepts and history of copyright and related rights.
- Copyright protection in major creative industries including film, music, publishing software/online game, and other emerging tech sectors such as AI and blockchain.
- Major cases involving copyright protection and infringement in creative sectors.
Fair use in both traditional and internet-related creative activities, and users’ rights.
1.3 Course teachers
| Name | E-mail address | Office | Consultation | |
| Course convenor | Yahong Li | yali@hku.hk | CCT 701 | By email |
1.4 Course outline (for elective course)
| Please click the link here for the course outline (HKU Portal login required). |
Learning Outcomes
2.1 Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs) for this course
CLO 1 Gain the knowledge of the basic concepts of copyright law.
CLO 2 Understand various theories on the role of copyright in creativity such as natural right theory, personality theory, and economic analysis of copyright law.
CLO 3 Use relevant information and empirical data about the impact of copyright law on creativity to critically examine the limitations of the existing theories.
CLO 4 Apply the knowledge and understanding acquired from the course to the new and uncertain situations and problems involving digital copyright protection and innovation.
CLO 5 Demonstrate an awareness of the impact of the copyright law within the broader economic, environmental and socio-cultural context.
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 | Weighting | Feedback method* | Course learning outcomes |
| Class attendance | 10% | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 | |
| Class participation in discussion (both voluntary and called-on) | 30% | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 | |
| 3-hour take home exam | 60% | 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). See also Course Outline above.
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
| Lecture: | 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: | Articles and cases are posted on Moodle |
| Core reading list: | Yahong Li, Intellectual Property and Technology: International Legal Framework, Policy and Practice (LexisNexis, 2026, available via bulk purchase) |
| Recommended reading list: | Yahong Li, Copyright, Internet and Right Balance (in Chinese) (HKU Press, 2016) |
5.2 Links
Please refer to the following link: http://www.law.hku.hk/course/learning-resources/