Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

On successful completion of this course, a student/participant will be able to:


1. demonstrate mastery of the principles of employment law, privacy law, defamation law, competition and consumer law and intellectual property law in so far as they relate to the use of digital media and communications;


2. demonstrate specialised knowledge of recent developments in digital media and communications law and practice in so far as they apply to a range of personal, business and government transactions and situations in the modern world;


3. demonstrate mastery of theoretical knowledge of digital media and communications  law and practice to generate complex ideas and reflect critically on the theory and practice of digital media and communications law;


4. investigate, critically reflect on and effectively communicate in plain English to inform diverse audiences of complex theoretical and practical ideas, concepts, strategies and courses of action concerning the application of digital media and communications law;


5. demonstrate relative cognitive and creative skills to analyse and synthesise complex information and problems at a theoretical level to then develop, justify and apply solutions at a practical level, particularly to advise on transactions or interactions involving digital media and communications; and


6. autonomously design, theorise, plan, execute and evaluate a substantial research-based project on a digital media and communications law topic.


Topics, teaching, learning activities and assessment are designed to develop the student’s / participant’s cognitive, technical and practical skills and knowledge to be able to draft and review documents and advise on transactions and interactions. Students / participants will engage in simulated client scenarios for the purpose of advising on specific dealings involving digital media and communications law issues.


Specific topics to be covered and assessments to be undertaken will be designed with options that enable students to select digital media and communications law related topics that are aligned to their own particular interests or specialities.


These interests and specialties will include those relevant for:

• Public Sector Lawyers and Public Sector IT Managers;
• Human Resources, Media and Communications Managers;
• Private Sector Lawyers;
• In-House Corporate Lawyers; and
• Other professionals who are responsible for advising on, or managing, transactions or interactions involving the development and/ or use of digital media.

Indicative Assessment

Assessment will comprise:


(a) Discussion Posting. In Topic 1 discussion questions, cases for comment and issues will be posted by the Convenor.  Students will be required to submit a discussion post of 800 words or equivalent. 10%


(b) Advice to Client: At the conclusion of Topic 4 students will be required to build on the learnings from Topics 1 - 4 to analyse a hypothetical real world scenario, undertake the necessary research and provide a simulated written advice to a client of 1500 words or equivalent. 20%


(c) Advice to Client: At the conclusion of Topic 6 students will be required to build on the learnings from Topics 1 - 6 to analyse a hypothetical real world scenario, undertake the necessary research and provide a simulated written advice to a client of 1500 words or equivalent. 20%


(d) Research Project: At the conclusion of Topic 7 students will be required to apply their learnings from Topics 1 -7 and undertake a 4,000 word research project on a specific digital media and communications law topic. The Convenor will provide a number of optional research topics to enable students / participants to select a topic that is most closely aligned to their personal and/ or professional interest. 50%

The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.

Workload

This is a 6 unit course, which is considered to have the equivalent full time student load (EFTSL) of 6/48 = 0.125.  The number of hours allocated to an EFTSL of 0.125 is 10 – 12 hours per week.
All course materials will be available online.

The course requires continuous online participation throughout the course, as students must participate in discussion forums and other activities.

Requisite and Incompatibility

Preliminary Reading

There is no prescribed textbook although the follow texts and websites will be useful reference sources. Additional and more specific details are included in the Indicative Course Outline.


General Reference Textbooks


• P.George “Social Media and the Law” (1st ed LexisNexis 2014)


Textbooks for Specific Areas


• R.Miller Miller’s Australian Competition and Consumer Law Annotated (36th ed Thomson Reuters)
• P.George “Defamation Law in Australia” (2nd ed LexisNexis 2012)
• M. Davison, A. Monotti and L.Wiseman, Australian Intellectual Property Law (2nd ed 2012 Cambridge)
• A. Stewart, P.Griffith J. Bannister and A.Liberman Intellectual Property in Australia (5th ed Lexis Nexis 2014)
• S.Ricketson, M.Richardson and M.Davison, Intellectual Property Cases, Materials and Commentary (5th ed Lexis Nexis 2012)


Australian Government Manuals and Guides


Quick Guide to Australian Government IP Rules http://www.ag.gov.au/RightsAndProtections/IntellectualProperty/Documents/QuickguidetotheAusGovIPRule...


Australian Government IP Management Manual http://www.ag.gov.au/RightsAndProtections/IntellectualProperty/Documents/IntellectualPropertyManual....


Guidelines on Licensing Public Sector Information http://www.ag.gov.au/RightsAndProtections/IntellectualProperty/Documents/GuidelinesforlicensingPSIfo...


Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department’s Intellectual Property Branch http://www.ag.gov.au/RightsAndProtections/IntellectualProperty/Pages/Copyright-information.aspx


Australian Internet Resources


IP Australia http://www.ipaustralia.gov.au


Australian Copyright Council http://www.copyright.org.au


IP Whiteboard http://www.ipwhiteboard.com.au/


Australian Government Solicitor Commercial Notes
http://www.ags.gov.au/publications/commercial-notes/index.html


Open Access to Knowledge (OAK) Project http://www.oaklaw.qut.edu.au/


Australian Public Service Commission http://www.apsc.gov.au


Office of the Australian Information Commissioner http://www.oaic.gov.au/


Australian Media and Communications Authority http://www.acma.gov.au/

Assumed Knowledge

It will be assumed that students or participants (CPD and audit) have some knowledge of, or experience in contract law, intellectual property law or related study or experience.

Those who do not will be provided with links on the Wattle site to information and be expected to manage their own learning to attain basic background knowledge.

Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links