MS4660: Fundamentals of Intellectual Property in Material Science and Engineering

Academic Units3
Semester1
Pre-requisite(s)Nil
Co-requisite(s)Nil

Course Instructors

IPOS International

Course AIMS

This course provides  you with a working understanding on significant intellectual property (IP) protection regimes in Singapore, covering copyright, patents, registered design, trade marks and trade secrets and the relevant legislation and legal principles.

The central aim of the course is providing students with the ability to identify, differentiate and apply various aspects of these IP regimes in connection with a business’s intellectual asset outputs.

Particular emphasis will be placed on the legal issues in relation to creation, protection, and exploitation of these intellectual assets. Within this context, the course explores how analysing IP rights protection laws and their considerations can guide a business’s IP strategies, and how a business is able to use such IP considerations to assess the viability of potential courses of action and their plausible business implications.

A note on the legal cases that are highlighted in the study units: these cases are for illustrative purposes in relation to the legal principles discussed; in general students are NOT expected to be able to recall them or use them in presenting arguments for assessment purposes.

Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you (as a student) would be able to:   

  1. Differentiate the range of IP regimes and their related legislation and regulations.
  2. Describe the qualifying criteria for IP protection/grant of IP rights, and duration of protection under the various IP regimes.
  3. Examine IP assets and determine the most appropriate IP protection regime(s) or strategy for effectiveness.
  4. Evaluate and determine issues relating to ownership and control of IP rights.
  5. Analyse and identify potential infringing behaviour/activities, and possible defences against allegations of infringement.
  6. Recommend appropriate remedies for instances of proven infringement.
  7. Analyse how the protection afforded by each IP protection regime or strategy can steer a business’s IP strategies and objectives.
  8. Assess potential business applications of various IP rights/ assets.
  9. Assess different considerations for the making of IP contracts and transactions.

Course Content

  1. Introduction to IP and Societal Justifications for IP Protection
  2. Understanding the Singapore IP Ecosystem
  3. Copyright Law: Practical Application and Business Considerations
  4. Confidential Information: Practical Application and Business Considerations
  5. Patent Law: Practical Application and Business Considerations
  6. Registered Design Law: Practical Application and Business Considerations
  7. Trade Mark Law: Practical Application and Business Considerations
  8. Infringement, Defences and Remedies of IP Rights
  9. Commercial Transactions of IP Rights: Licensing and Assignments

Reading and References

Pre readings:

  1. IPOS website  https://www.ipos.gov.sg
  2. Copyright Infopack (IPOS) https://www.ipos.gov.sg/about-ip/copyright/copyright-resources
  3. Trade Mark Infopack (IPOS) https://www.ipos.gov.sg/about-ip/trade-marks/introduction-trade-marks
  4. Classification of Goods and Services 
  5. IPA-authored Learner’s Guide containing key content (required)