Undergraduate Programmes

Newly created ideas and information have always been crucial to the economic progress of nations. Much recently, they have become the lynchpins of the knowledge-based economy. Research and development (R&D) in new technologies and processes continue to supply valuable ideas (“innovations”) to industry and business. The range of innovations includes secret formulae and processes, inventions, models and designs, marks and brands embodying reputation, works of art, multimedia, databases, music and literature.

This course aims to provide business, science and engineering students a good grounding in how the law facilitates and protects the development, management and use of innovations. It focuses on the protection of innovations under the various intellectual property (IP) laws and how they can be exploited in manufacturing, marketing and the service industry generally. The course also covers facets of the innovation process, strategic applications of IP in building competitiveness, the licensing and transfer of technology and the valuation of IP. Finally, it deals with the special concerns of IP in the areas of information technology, the Internet, biotechnology and employee innovations.