• Director of Studies: Mr Jason Bosland

Overview

The communications law specialisation was developed to provide students with an advanced understanding of the existing and developing law affecting the media and communication industries and its impact on the publication of information, ownership, services and technology. In light of the rapid and evolving development of communications technologies, the program provides a valuable insight into this vibrant area of law. Melbourne Law School has a high level of expertise in communications law, as well as a dedicated research centre, the Centre for Media and Communications Law, which is a useful resource for students.

Objectives and Skills

The Graduate Diploma in Communications Law focuses on:

• The implications of different regulatory models for individuals, corporate entities, states and information providers
• The international context facing law and the media and communications industries
• Divergent legal norms and cultural values within contemporary approaches to communications law and policy
• Evaluating and synthesising communications law, policy and research
• Communications law scholarship, responding to legal issues facing the media and communications industries.

Requirements

Students must complete four subjects from the lists below, including at least one subject from each group.

Students who do not have a law degree from a common law jurisdiction or any prior legal studies or experience are also expected to complete the two-day preliminary subjectAustralian Legal Process and Legal Institutions.

Group A
• Defamation Law*
• Free Speech, Contempt and the Media
• Privacy Law*

Group B
• Behavioural Law and Economics*
• Communications Law
• Competition and New Technologies
• Competition Law and Intellectual Property*
• Copyright Law*
• Cultural Heritage, Trade and Development
• Entertainment Law
• Film and Television Law: Production, Financing and Distribution*
• Freedom of Information*
• Hate Speech*
• Information Security Law
• Information Technology Contracting Law*
• International and Comparative Copyright Law
• Internet Law*
• Law and Economics of Access Regulation*

*Offered in 2012

Director of Studies

Jason Bosland






Lecturers - 2012

• Associate Professor David Brennan
• Mr Godwin Busuttil
• Mr Michael Carrick
• Ms Karin Clark
• Dr Matt Collins SC
• Mr Arlen Duke
• Associate Professor Katharine Gelber
• Mr Jonathan Gill
• Professor Dan Hunter
• Professor Andrew Kenyon
• Professor Maeve McDonagh
• Professor Megan Richardson
• Professor Adrienne Stone
• Professor Maurice Stucke
• Mr Simon Uthmeyer
• Ms Kimberlee Weatherall
• Mr Richard York



Advisory Board

Mr Michael Lloyd-Jones, Federal Magistrate (Chair)


• Ms Elizabeth Beal, Herald & Weekly Times


• Mr Bruce Burke, Banki Haddock Fiora


• Mr Warren Coatsworth, Seven Network Australia


• Ms Julie Eisenberg


• Mr Jon Faine, ABC Radio


• Mr Stuart Gibson, Gibson Legal


• Mr Jonathan Gill, Partner, Carrick Gill Smyth


• Ms Gail Hambly, Fairfax Media


• Mr Jim Holmes, OVUM Pty Ltd


• Mr Paul Kallenbach, Minter Ellison


• Mr Richard Leder, Corrs Chambers Westgarth


• Mr Peter Leonard, Gilbert + Tobin


• Mr Cheng Lim, King & Wood Mallesons


• Mr Denis Muller, Centre for Public Policy, The University of Melbourne


• Mr Craig Ng, Maddocks


• Mr Hugh Northam, Septimus Jones & Lee


• Mr Michael Pattison, Allens Arthur Robinson


• Mr Nic Pullen, HWL Ebsworth Lawyers


• Mr Michael Rivette, Chancery Chambers


• Mr Greg Sitch, Macleay William


• Professor Andrew Stewart, The University of Adelaide


• Mr Robert Todd, Ashurst Australia


• Ms Deanne Weir, Austar United Communications

Course Subjects for 2012

• Behavioural Law and Economics
• Competition Law and Intellectual Property
• Copyright Law
• Defamation Law
• Film and Television Law: Production, Financing and Distribution
• Freedom of Information (formerly Regulating Access to Public Information)
• Hate Speech
• Information Technology Contracting Law
• Internet Law
• Law and Economics of Access Regulation
• Privacy Law (Formerly Privacy and Data Protection)

# Offered in 2012

All Subjects

• Behavioural Law and Economics #
• Communications Law
• Competition and New Technologies
• Competition Law and Intellectual Property #
• Copyright Law #
• Cultural Heritage, Trade and Development
• Defamation Law #
• Entertainment Law
• Film and Television Law: Production, Financing and Distribution #
• Free Speech, Contempt and the Media
• Freedom of Information (formerly Regulating Access to Public Information) #
• Hate Speech #
• Information Security Law
• Information Technology Contracting Law #
• International and Comparative Copyright Law
• Internet Law #
• Law and Economics of Access Regulation #
• Privacy Law (Formerly Privacy and Data Protection) #