Overview

The aim of this unit is to enable students, through the study of cases, statutes and other material, to acquire a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of, and competence in, Australian copyright law and its broader context. This unit introduces students to the laws relating to copyright in Australia, specifically focusing on the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth) and related case law.

Requisites

Prerequisites

75 credit points in Law units

Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
04-August-2025
02-November-2025
Last self-enrolment date
17-August-2025
Census date
31-August-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
19-September-2025
Results released date
09-December-2025
Teaching Period 1
Location
Online
Start and end dates
09-March-2026
07-June-2026
Last self-enrolment date
22-March-2026
Census date
07-April-2026
Last withdraw without fail date
28-April-2026
Results released date
30-June-2026
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
03-August-2026
01-November-2026
Last self-enrolment date
16-August-2026
Census date
01-September-2026
Last withdraw without fail date
22-September-2026
Results released date
08-December-2026
Teaching Period 3
Location
Online
Start and end dates
02-November-2026
07-February-2027
Last self-enrolment date
15-November-2026
Census date
01-December-2026
Last withdraw without fail date
22-December-2026
Results released date
02-March-2027

Unit learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  1. Describe and evaluate Australian copyright law
  2. Locate and interpret legislation applicable to copyright law
  3. Apply copyright law to factual situations and effectively advise and communicate with clients and others about their rights and obligations
  4. Conduct copyright law related research and use the results of that research to develop a legal argument

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
On-campus
Class		3.00 12 weeks 36
Online
Lecture		1.00 12 weeks 12
Unspecified Activities
Various		8.50 12 weeks 102
TOTAL150

Swinburne Online

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)

Live Online

Class (synchronous)

 11.50  12 weeks  138

Online

Directed Online Learning

 1.00  12 weeks  12

Unspecified Activities

Independent Learning

 8.5 12 weeks 102
TOTAL     150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
PortfolioIndividual 30 - 50% 2,3,4 
Research AssignmentIndividual 50 - 70% 1,2,3,4 

Content

  • Introduction to Copyright Act 1968 (Cth)
  • Rationale for protection
  • Fundamentals of copyright
  • Subsistence of copyright
  • Territoriality connecting factors
  • Authorship
  • Duration of protection
  • Exclusive rights
  • Exploitation
  • Infringement
  • Defences
  • Remedies
  • Performer's rights
  • Moral rights

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.