UQ Law School

Congratulations to Ella Woods, Zoë Fraser and Anna Harisson for claiming victory in the Grand Final of the inaugural Queensland Environmental Law Association (QELA) Moot which took place on 22 August 2024 at the Brisbane District Court. A special thanks goes to Associate Professor Justine Bell-James for expertly coaching the team. We are immensely proud of the team’s result, and we are grateful to QELA and all the partner organisations that made the competition possible.

DNA has always been comprised of the same four bases – ATCG. So, why is this once patentable invention now considered an unpatentable product of nature? UQ Law School PhD candidate Sruthi Balaji has been investigating intellectual property claims to genetic materials to shed light on contemporary debates about proprietary interests in genetic information. “Although the courts and patent offices have now rejected patents comprising natural DNA and genes, it remains murky as to why this practice was accepted for almost half a century to suddenly be shut down in the last decade,” Sruthi said. “Patents, and more broadly the law, are often considered stable and predictable instruments, but this isn’t necessarily the case. Their unpredictability can have profound impacts; therefore, understanding when and how changes in legal judgement arise has great value.” In her doctoral research, Sruthi investigated molecular biology and biotechnology patenting practices over the 20th century up to recent landmark gene and diagnostic patent cases that have had significant ramifications for the biotechnology industry and innovation. She found that the way these inventions are presented and described in patent applications impact on legal judgements, particularly judgements on patentability. “How the science and research values and treats the invention isn’t an accurate indication of legal outcomes,” Sruthi said. “The legal interpretation of an invention often relies heavily on how it’s described in patent applications, creating a legal invention that doesn’t always match the scientific one. “Where scientific progress has led to new and improved understandings of the same invention, the law has struggled to manage that. This has resulted in an entirely new legal interpretation of the same invention with a new legal outcome, creating a patent law that isn’t always stable or predictable. “The law has been forced to make choices on how to legally judge the scientific invention, with serious social and economic repercussions flowing from those choices both historically and into the future.” Connect with Sruthi to learn more about intellectual property claims to genetic materials. Find out more about higher degrees by research at UQ > https://lnkd.in/eEHrhbkb

A very interesting and timely research piece added to my list of publications. Glad to share the release of my book chapter "AI-Driven Patent Law and Practice: Who is in the driver’s seat?" featured in the insightful compilation "Emerging Interfaces of Intellectual Property and Technology" edited by Prof. ANINDYA SIRCAR and published by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc In this research piece, I have critically examined the burgeoning role of generative AI, particularly Large Language Models (LLMs), in patent law and practice. Particularly, I have scrutinized the tools currently aiding patent professionals in tasks such as drafting patent applications, identifying prior art, and evaluating patentability. The research pivots around the central research question: How does the engagement with AI language models, in the context of client disclosures and data, influence the patentability of inventions, the safeguarding of client data privacy, the accountability for data breaches, and the sanctity of attorney-client privilege? Through this inquiry, the chapter navigates the legal and ethical conundrums posed by GenAI in patent practice, proposing arguments and recommendations for its better integration and utilization. It further contemplates the prospective trajectories for patent practice in an AI-dominant future. How do you envisage AI's evolution within patent practice? https://lnkd.in/ghv6K-aH. #AIDrivenPatentLaw #IntellectualProperty #Patentlaw #PatentPractice #Innovation #ChatGPT #BingAI #clientdata UQ Law School The University of Queensland

Last week, we had the honour of hosting our annual Women in Law event with Herbert Smith Freehills. The evening included a vibrant panel discussion, Q&A session and networking function. Thank you to all who came along, and a special thank you to Kathryn Pacey, Sian Newnham, Caitlin Pincott, Hannah Ashford, and Rosalind Williams, who all shared invaluable insights from their personal experiences and discussed issues that present gender barriers within the legal profession.

A group of our UQ Law School students, alumni and industry participated in a valuable workshop on Using Translators and Interpreters in the Legal Setting. Held by the UQ Pro Bono Centre, the workshop delved into helpful insights on how to engage and best use these resources to benefit counsel and clients. Speakers at the workshop included Rosalind Williams, Richard Holliman, Liying (Lynn) Geng, Mere Spring, and Carl Forman. This event was delivered with the assistance of the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI), Australian Institute of Interpreters and Translators (AUSIT), Australian Sign Language Interpreters and Translators' Association (ASLITA), and the UQ School of Languages and Culture. Learn how practitioners can partner with the Pro Bono Centre: https://lnkd.in/ejGdE7v2

How can Australia play a bigger role in accountability for those suspected of atrocity crimes? Join us on 19 August for the Justice and Accountability Network Australia (JANA) Annual Report Launch: Universal Jurisdiction in Australia. The event will commence with a keynote address by the United States Ambassador-at-Large for Global Criminal Justice, Dr Beth Van Schaack. Professor Rain Liivoja from UQ Law School will chair the event and panel discussion, including panel members Dr Lauren Sanders, Professor Kevin Jon Heller, Bob Reid AM, and Dr Melinda Rankin, PhD. Register to join in person or online: https://lnkd.in/eeSCA775

Does a 4-day work week help or hinder Australian business? Professor Graeme Orr from UQ Law School sheds light from a legal perspective on the advantages and disadvantages for businesses, and potential legal ramifications that could arise: https://lnkd.in/gD5dFqyS Subscribe to UQ Business School's Momentum magazine and keep up with the latest research insights and business thinking: https://lnkd.in/gsZUHUW

I’m delighted to share that my latest book chapter co-authored with Dr. Dara Ajay, titled “The Impact of 3D Bioprinting Innovation on IP Ecosystem and Patent Law: An Indian and US Perspective”, has been published with Springer Nature Group ! In this chapter, we explored the complexities of patenting 3D bioprinting innovations and their influence on the intellectual property ecosystem, comparing perspectives from both India and the United States. This work is part of the book “Science, Technology and Innovation Ecosystem: An Indian and Global Perspective”. Edited by Kashmir Singh, @Nirmala Chongtham, Radhika Trikha, Mamta Bhardwaj, @Sukhdeep Kaur You can read the chapter here: https://lnkd.in/gzTYC8bh #Research #Innovation #3DBioprinting #IntellectualProperty #PatentLaw #SpringerNature #AcademicPublishing UQ Law School The University of Queensland

As the next Queensland State election approaches, both major parties have been promising to ‘crack down’ on youth crime. But while Queensland currently locks up more children than any other state, is putting children in detention a viable solution and does it reduce the rates of re-offending? UQ researchers Dr Joseph Lelliott, Dr Rebecca Wallis and Dr Emma Antrobus explain why a 'crack down' isn't the answer: https://lnkd.in/gD8yesar #Research UQ Law School + UQ Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences

Recently, Australian Federal Police arrested a Russian-born Australian couple for allegedly intending to provide defence force material to Russian authorities. The couple has been charged with “preparing for an espionage offence”, which could see them in jail for up to 15 years. Adjunct Research Fellow Dr Sarah Kendall writes for The Conversation Australia + NZ and explains why this case is one to watch: https://lnkd.in/gTyVwScc