Facilitation and Regulation of Research and Development Involving Human Genetic Databanks. Australia's medical biotechnology research feeds into our biotechnology industries, with flow-on benefits for national health and prosperity. Realisation of these benefits is contingent upon community protection and public trust. An effective and appropriate regulatory regime is a foundation requirement. This project aims to shape a national regulatory framework for human genetic databanks that both facili ....Facilitation and Regulation of Research and Development Involving Human Genetic Databanks. Australia's medical biotechnology research feeds into our biotechnology industries, with flow-on benefits for national health and prosperity. Realisation of these benefits is contingent upon community protection and public trust. An effective and appropriate regulatory regime is a foundation requirement. This project aims to shape a national regulatory framework for human genetic databanks that both facilitates research and maintains highest ethical standards. By examining the balance between facilitation and regulation, assessing existing law reform proposals, making recommendations for further reform, and placing this analysis in the international context, this project will significantly benefit the nation and the research community. Read moreRead less
Legal and Ethical Regulation of the Use and Commercialisation of Human Biological Material. The Australian government has a policy of promoting expertise in genomics. An essential ingredient of research and development of the genomics industry is access to human biological material. A clear regulatory framework is required, consistent with national ethical principles. There is lack of clarity, legally and ethically, in relation to ownership (including derivative claims), consented and un-consent ....Legal and Ethical Regulation of the Use and Commercialisation of Human Biological Material. The Australian government has a policy of promoting expertise in genomics. An essential ingredient of research and development of the genomics industry is access to human biological material. A clear regulatory framework is required, consistent with national ethical principles. There is lack of clarity, legally and ethically, in relation to ownership (including derivative claims), consented and un-consented use, contracts, conflict of interest and benefit sharing in human biological material, including regenerative tissue. Clarification will facilitate ethical research and commercialisation. These issues will be analysed systematically with recommendations for Australia consistent with international standards.Read moreRead less
The Future of Television: Australian Legal Protection of Digital Broadcast Content. Free-to-air broadcasting performs central democratic, economic and cultural functions, with a key place in Australia's media. But technological changes pose fundamental and urgent challenges for broadcasters. By investigating mechanisms to protect digital content, the project will advance understanding of a crucial issue in the digital economy. The project will increase understanding of options for protecting bro ....The Future of Television: Australian Legal Protection of Digital Broadcast Content. Free-to-air broadcasting performs central democratic, economic and cultural functions, with a key place in Australia's media. But technological changes pose fundamental and urgent challenges for broadcasters. By investigating mechanisms to protect digital content, the project will advance understanding of a crucial issue in the digital economy. The project will increase understanding of options for protecting broadcast content to promote innovation in content production and distribution, while not restraining reasonable content uses nor hindering innovative consumer electronics. Australian policies should foster an innovative and diverse broadcasting sector to serve Australian public interests. The project promotes this vital objective.Read moreRead less
The Use of Information and Cryptographic Technology to Restrict Competition. This project will deliver the following benefits:
- Improve the understanding of how security technologies can be misapplied to restrict competition;
- Development of an early warning mechanism to assist regulators in determining when anti-competitive behaviour is occurring thorough the use of security technologies;
- provide assistance to the Australian Government, and thus the Australian economy, by developing an i ....The Use of Information and Cryptographic Technology to Restrict Competition. This project will deliver the following benefits:
- Improve the understanding of how security technologies can be misapplied to restrict competition;
- Development of an early warning mechanism to assist regulators in determining when anti-competitive behaviour is occurring thorough the use of security technologies;
- provide assistance to the Australian Government, and thus the Australian economy, by developing an international framework that can be promoted to Australia's major trading partners to achieve a harmonisation of complimentary competitive regulation.
- The provision of criteria for consideration by Australian industry in developing new products that may incorporate security technologies
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Amateur Hour: The Sociolegal Construction of Amateur Media. This project addresses Research Priority 3, specifically the priority goal of Promoting an Innovation Culture and Economy. The rise of amateur networked production is a highly significant transformation in Australia's cultural and media industries. Innovation policy provides incentives for the socially-optimal production of new works, but amateurs do not produce for commercial gain, and may not respond to commercial incentives of inte ....Amateur Hour: The Sociolegal Construction of Amateur Media. This project addresses Research Priority 3, specifically the priority goal of Promoting an Innovation Culture and Economy. The rise of amateur networked production is a highly significant transformation in Australia's cultural and media industries. Innovation policy provides incentives for the socially-optimal production of new works, but amateurs do not produce for commercial gain, and may not respond to commercial incentives of intellectual property. The project articulates motivations, incentive and conditions for amateur content production.Read moreRead less
Establishing an optimal legal framework for online privacy. Consumer confidence in the security of personal information is essential for the growth of electronic commerce. To compete internationally, Australia must establish a world-class legal framework for the protection of online privacy. New technologies for collecting and processing personal information pose threats to individual privacy. Other technologies may protect privacy. Increasingly, effective protection of privacy depends upon ....Establishing an optimal legal framework for online privacy. Consumer confidence in the security of personal information is essential for the growth of electronic commerce. To compete internationally, Australia must establish a world-class legal framework for the protection of online privacy. New technologies for collecting and processing personal information pose threats to individual privacy. Other technologies may protect privacy. Increasingly, effective protection of privacy depends upon the coordination of legal rules and technological measures. This project will be the first study to investigate the optimal mix of regulatory tools for the protection of online privacy in Australia. Recommendations will be made to improve Australian privacy laws and policies.Read moreRead less
Towards Resolution of Franchising Conflict. Franchising is a major sector in the Australian economy with annual turnover greater than $128 billion. Some 35% of franchisors report being involved in substantial disputes with franchisees. This project will investigate the causes of conflict in franchising relationships. Benefits will include a predictive model to identify where conflict is likely to occur in franchising conditions, thereby allowing participants the opportunity to address conflic ....Towards Resolution of Franchising Conflict. Franchising is a major sector in the Australian economy with annual turnover greater than $128 billion. Some 35% of franchisors report being involved in substantial disputes with franchisees. This project will investigate the causes of conflict in franchising relationships. Benefits will include a predictive model to identify where conflict is likely to occur in franchising conditions, thereby allowing participants the opportunity to address conflict before it escalates into dispute. Case studies and recommendations will inform participants and regulatory authorities so as to prevent conflict escalating. This will create a more 'level playing field' for participants and improve financial security for all stakeholders.Read moreRead less
Employment consequences of criminal behaviour: Double punishment or just deserts? Employment deprivations are hardships often consequent upon findings of criminal guilt and additional to criminal sanctions imposed by the courts - a convicted person may be dismissed from employment or ineligible to apply for certain jobs, particularly public sector positions. There are no settled legal principles governing inter-play between criminal behaviour and employment status and opportunities. Unfairness ....Employment consequences of criminal behaviour: Double punishment or just deserts? Employment deprivations are hardships often consequent upon findings of criminal guilt and additional to criminal sanctions imposed by the courts - a convicted person may be dismissed from employment or ineligible to apply for certain jobs, particularly public sector positions. There are no settled legal principles governing inter-play between criminal behaviour and employment status and opportunities. Unfairness may result, as the offence effectively attracts a 'double' punishment; an offender's rehabilitative prospects are impeded; social and economic burdens ensue.
The project aims to develop comprehensive policy guidelines concerning the appropriate connection between criminal behaviour and employment status for courts, governments and employers.Read moreRead less
The nexus of law and biology for emerging technologies. At the beginning of the 21st century, biological information has never been more important to law. With the goal of enhancing economic development, the proposed collaboration synthesizes key concepts from jurisprudence and biology. Key research sites of national and international teams- (1) Biologic, Legal Logic; (2) Medical Genetics and Consumers; (3) Feminism, Law, Biology and (4) Biotechnology, Ethics, Environment - explore specific leg ....The nexus of law and biology for emerging technologies. At the beginning of the 21st century, biological information has never been more important to law. With the goal of enhancing economic development, the proposed collaboration synthesizes key concepts from jurisprudence and biology. Key research sites of national and international teams- (1) Biologic, Legal Logic; (2) Medical Genetics and Consumers; (3) Feminism, Law, Biology and (4) Biotechnology, Ethics, Environment - explore specific legal implications of biological information and synergise the intersections. Outcomes and benefits include enhanced communication between jurisprudence and biology, important fora for the disciplines to learn about each other and an internationally recognised national research institute of Law and Biology based in Brisbane.Read moreRead less
Enhancing Reproductive Opportunity in Australia: Reconsidering Consent, Altruism and the Legal Status of Embryos in ART Processes. This project meets the national research priority of a healthy start to life by enhancing reproductive opportunity while safeguarding the rights and interests of all involved in reproduction with donor gametes. This research will create significant national benefits in the form of an up to date, practical and coherent platform for the reform of all aspects of embryo ....Enhancing Reproductive Opportunity in Australia: Reconsidering Consent, Altruism and the Legal Status of Embryos in ART Processes. This project meets the national research priority of a healthy start to life by enhancing reproductive opportunity while safeguarding the rights and interests of all involved in reproduction with donor gametes. This research will create significant national benefits in the form of an up to date, practical and coherent platform for the reform of all aspects of embryo and gamete donation and embryo disputes. We propose a pro-active consultative model that centres the needs and experiences of gamete and embryo donors and recipients. Our research will inform current and future modes of regulation of gamete and embryo donation and dispute resolution, including legislation, ethics guidelines and codes of practice.Read moreRead less