Graduate Certificate in Law and Technology Module 9: Digital Assets and IP Disputes (GCLT)

Technology is ubiquitous. It is the infrastructure of our daily lives but also gives rise to many weighty legal issues. Particularly in intellectual property (IP) law, where tension between rewarding intellectual development and incentivising further developments, is most acute in the context of technological advancement. With other issues concerning digital assets and IP, the legal sector finds itself in a new web of regulating, promoting and guiding the public in the future of such disputes.

This module delves into IP laws and applying it to digital assets. Participants will acquire the knowledge to making proper considerations in managing and disputing IP matters. They will also learn how to manage digital assets and understand the application of IP law in this digital age.

This module is part of the Graduate Certificate in Law and Technology.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

• Understand the concepts of inventorship, authorship and ownership as applied to digital assets and new technologies; new characterisations
• Demonstrate specialised knowledge of technology transfer agreements
• Understand the anatomy of IP disputes – pre-action stage to Court of Appeal proceedings before IPOS
• Analyse key considerations when undertaking settlement discussions
• Understand IP wars - the international stage (US versus China)
• Understand case studies in the field of trademark infringement, passing off, copyright, patents and breach of confidence
• Understand digital assets and what they comprise
• Understand intellectual property (IP) laws and how they apply to digital assets
• Understand recent and proposed IP reforms
• Analyse the pros and cons of alternative dispute resolution fora for IP matters (arbitration, mediation, the Singapore International Commercial Court)
• Appreciate the management and monetisation of digital assets
• Understand the strategic considerations and outcomes that drive decisions in managing IP disputes

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

• Practicing lawyers and Legal Services Officers
• Paralegals
• Allied Legal Professionals (e.g. Legal Technologists)

PREREQUISITE

• A Bachelor's Degree; or
• A Diploma with at least 3 years of working experience

ASSESSMENT

As part of the requirement for SkillsFuture Singapore funding, there will be an assessment conducted at the end of the course.

CERTIFICATION

Upon meeting the minimum attendance requirement (>75%) and passing the assessment, participants will be awarded a digital Certificate of Participation after each module. 

For a complete certificate, participants are required to take 7 out of the 10 modules in accordance to the pathway of their choice. The pathways are created based on job profile and the module requirements for each pathway vary accordingly.

• Innovator
  
  For those looking to transform their practice
  Modules 1, 2, 4, 7, and any three remaining modules 
  
   
• Researcher
  
  For those interested in frontier issues in technology law
  Modules 1, 5, 6, 7, and any three remaining modules 
  
   
• Practitioner
  
  For those looking to update themselves on growing areas of practice
  Modules 1, 7, 8, 9, and any three remaining modules

The modules offered under each pathway are organised into the following categories to better facilitate participants’ selection of modules and learning.

• Foundation Knowledge
• Legal Technology
• Technology Law
• Impact of Technology on Law

The exact combination will depend on the chosen learning pathway of each individual participant. After selecting their pathway, participants may then choose any other 3 modules for their electives.

Participants without legal training are required to take Module 1, in addition to the 3 core and 3 elective modules, in order to qualify for the full certificate. Module 1 is NOT recommended for those with legal training as it covers basic legal concepts.

SPEAKER

Dr. Lai specialises in all forms of IP litigation and information technology disputes, and is also a commercial litigator. He also maintains a strong advisory practice for IP/ data management and cybersecurity, serving a broad spectrum of clients. In the biomedical and pharmaceutical sectors, Dr. Lai has substantial experience in advising on healthcare and medical IP and regulatory issues concerning medicines, generics, patent linkage, bio‐similars, medical devices, clinical trials, product recalls and product liability.

Dr. Lai is recognised as a leading individual in Chambers Asia‐Pacific, The Legal 500 Asia Pacific and other leading legal publications. Currently, he’s the Chairman of the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore and also a member of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre IP Panel and Singapore Copyright Tribunal. He also serves as a Principal Mediator of the Singapore Mediation Centre. Dr. Lai has published extensively on IP and information technology law, including the book entitled “The Copyright Protection of Computer Software in the United Kingdom”, and an article entitled “Publisher reigned in on racing data copyright claim”.