John Swinson's principal interests are intellectual property law, Internet law, privacy law, cybersecurity law and the application of law to new technologies.
John commenced as a part-time professor at the T.C. Beirne School of Law in November 2017. John graduated from the T.C. Beirne School of Law in 1998 with a University Medal. He also has a Bachelor of Arts majoring in computer science from The University of Queensland and a Master of Laws from Harvard Law School where he studied as a Fulbright Fellow and a Frank Knox Scholar. From 1999 until 2017, John was an adjunct professor at QUT.
John was a partner at the law firm King & Wood Mallesons from 1999 to 2021. He was also Chairman of the auDA Policy Review Panel, which made recommendations to the auDA Board to revise Australia's domain name policies in 2019.
Since 2000, John has been an arbitrator for the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) in Geneva, and has decided over 650 disputes regarding the ownership of domain names.
Book Chapter: Technology & IP / Artificial intelligence & IP
Swinson, John (2024). Technology & IP / Artificial intelligence & IP. Practical Guidance. (pp. 1-1) Sydney, NSW Australia: LexisNexis.
Journal Article: Artificial artistry: The legal implications of AI-generated art (or legally, is AI art really art?)
Swinson, John (2023). Artificial artistry: The legal implications of AI-generated art (or legally, is AI art really art?). Art and Australia, 58 (2).
Conference Publication: Arbitration new frontiers: AI, sustainable practices and other ideas
Swinson, John, Gomez, Angelina, Sanghera, Kiran, Price, Schellie Jayne and Mallett, Daisy (2023). Arbitration new frontiers: AI, sustainable practices and other ideas. ACICA International Arbitration Conference, Perth, WA Australia, 9 October 2023.
Legal risk and its management in corporate and commercial transactions: Formulating a principle-based definition of legal risk.
Master Philosophy
Evolutionary Psychology perspectives on Privacy Law
Master Philosophy
Patent Law for Australian Inventors
Swinson, John (2013). Patent Law for Australian Inventors. Brisbane, QLD Australia: King & Wood Mallesons.
Technology & IP / Artificial intelligence & IP
Swinson, John (2024). Technology & IP / Artificial intelligence & IP. Practical Guidance. (pp. 1-1) Sydney, NSW Australia: LexisNexis.
The PPSA and security interests over intellectual property
Gunning, Patrick, Lange, Michaela and Swinson, John (2015). The PPSA and security interests over intellectual property. Australian Finance Law. (pp. 649-660) edited by John Stumbles. Sydney, NSW, Australia: Lawbook Co..
Swinson, John and Howley, Jessica (2010). Intellectual Property. Personal property securities in Australia. (pp. 4.9.50-4.9.1550) edited by Steve Edwards, Craig Wappett and Bruce Whittaker . Chatswood, NSW Australia: LexisNexis.
Patents in cyberspace: electronic commerce and business method patents
Swinson John and Middleton, Gaye (2000). Patents in cyberspace: electronic commerce and business method patents. Going Digital 2000: legal issues for e-commerce, software, and the internet. (pp. ---) edited by Fitzgerald, Anne, Fitzgerald, Peter Cook and Cifuentes, Christina. New South Wales: Prospect Media.
Artificial artistry: The legal implications of AI-generated art (or legally, is AI art really art?)
Swinson, John (2023). Artificial artistry: The legal implications of AI-generated art (or legally, is AI art really art?). Art and Australia, 58 (2).
New cybersecurity laws In Australia
Swinson, John V. (2022). New cybersecurity laws In Australia. Computer and Telecommunications Law Review, 28 (8), 167-171.
Review of Copyright law, by David Brennan
Swinson, John V. (2022). Review of Copyright law, by David Brennan. Computer and Telecommunications Law Review, 28 (7), 163-164.
Software licensing in M&A transactions
Swinson, John V. (2022). Software licensing in M&A transactions. Computer and Telecommunications Law Review, 28 (7), 156-158.
Swinson, John (2020). Cybersecurity lawsuits. Computers and Law, 19-21.
Swinson, John and Nash, Kai (2020). Surveillance law. The Agent, 53 (5), 8-10.
Screen scraping: A question of legality
Swinson, John, Litherland, Karen, Nash, Kai and Schibler, Linus (2020). Screen scraping: A question of legality. Thompson Reuters Practical Law.
The Personal Property Securities Act 2009 (Cth) and its impact on intellectual property
Swinson, John V. and Gunning, Patrick M. (2012). The Personal Property Securities Act 2009 (Cth) and its impact on intellectual property. Intellectual property forum (91), 37-46.
Online marketing: A one-way street once more?
Swinson, John (2012). Online marketing: A one-way street once more?. Art + Law (3), 19-20.
Swinson, John V. (2011). Domain name law. PRECEDENT (103), 10-14.
Swinson, John (2006). Uncertainties and insecurities : personal property security reform and its impact on intellectual property. Intellectual property forum (66), 12-25.
Security interests in intellectual property in Australia
Swinson, John V. (2002). Security interests in intellectual property in Australia. Bond Law Review, 14 (1) 9, 1-56. doi: 10.53300/001c.5393
Mann, Jeff, Swinson, John and Morrison, David (2000). e-gst. Revenue Law Journal, 10 (1), 138-189.
Swinson, John (1998). E-commerce patents. Law and Technology (4), 1-2.
Confidentiality on the Superhighway
Swinson, John (1995). Confidentiality on the Superhighway. The American Lawyer.
Recent software patent developments in the United States
Swinson, John (1994). Recent software patent developments in the United States. Journal of Law and Information Science, 5 (2), 281-295.
Swinson, John (1993). Notes from the United States. Journal of Law and Information Science, 4 (2), 293-303.
Software patents in the United States
Swinson, John V. (1993). Software patents in the United States. Journal of Law and Information Science, 4 (1), 116-141.
Copyright or patent or both: an algorithmic approach to computer software protection
Swinson, John (1991). Copyright or patent or both: an algorithmic approach to computer software protection. Harvard Journal of Law and Technology, 5 (1), 145-214.
Pincus, C.W. and Swinson, J. V. (1990). The idle creditor. Australian Business Law Review, 18 (2).
Arbitration new frontiers: AI, sustainable practices and other ideas
Swinson, John, Gomez, Angelina, Sanghera, Kiran, Price, Schellie Jayne and Mallett, Daisy (2023). Arbitration new frontiers: AI, sustainable practices and other ideas. ACICA International Arbitration Conference, Perth, WA Australia, 9 October 2023.
The use of generative AI in a legal practice - a giant leap forward?
Swinson, John (2023). The use of generative AI in a legal practice - a giant leap forward?. ALPMA Summit 2023 'Embrace, Adapt, Evolve: the sustainable firm of the future', Melbourne, VIC Australia, 6-8 September 2023.
Privacy and Cyber Security Class Actions: the next growth wave
Swinson, John (2023). Privacy and Cyber Security Class Actions: the next growth wave. Emerging Trends in Class Action Litigation, Sydney, NSW Australia, 10 March 2023. Sydney, NSW Australia: Commercial Law Association.
Objective knowledge, subjective knowledge, intent
Gold, Anthony, Nodine, Larry and Swinson, John (2022). Objective knowledge, subjective knowledge, intent. 2022 WIPO Panelists Meeting, Geneva, Switzerland, 14 October 2022. Geneva, Switzerland: WIPO.
Do Internet process patents threaten eCommerce?
Swinson, John V. (2001). Do Internet process patents threaten eCommerce?. Cyberspace Regulation: eCommerce and Content, Sydney, Australia, 24 - 25 May.
Submission in respect Safe and Responsible AI in Australia – Discussion Paper
Swinson, John (2023). Submission in respect Safe and Responsible AI in Australia – Discussion Paper. Canberra, ACT Australia: Department of Industry, Science and Resources.
Discussion Paper: 2023-2030 Australian Cyber Security Strategy
Abeysooriya, Sasenka, Akhlaghpour, Saeed, Bongiovanni, Ivano, Dowsett, Dallas, Grotowski, Joseph, Holm, Mike, Kim, Dan, Ko, Ryan, Phillips, Andelka M., Slapnicar, Sergeja, Stockdale, David, Swinson, John, Thonon, Geoffroy, Utting, Mark, Walker-Munro, Brendan and Willoughby, Shannon (2023). Discussion Paper: 2023-2030 Australian Cyber Security Strategy. UQ CYBER and AUSCERT.
Submission in respect of Privacy Act Review – Report 2022
John Swinson (2023). Submission in respect of Privacy Act Review – Report 2022. Canberra, ACT Australia: Attorney-Generals Department.
Brydon T Wang and John Swinson (2022). Submission on the proposed changes to Queensland's Information Privacy and Right to Information Framework. Brisbane, QLD: Department of Justice and Attorney-General.
Submission in respect of Privacy Act Review – discussion paper
Swinson, John (2022). Submission in respect of Privacy Act Review – discussion paper. Canberra, ACT Australia: Attorney-Generals Department.
Swinson, John, Clark, Narelle, Fenton, Brett, Halson, Ian, Hunter, Dan, Hole, Jeff and Seaton, Nicola (2019). Final report: recommendations to the auDA board: reform of existing policies & implementation of direct registration. Melbourne, VIC, Australia: auDA.
Legal risk and its management in corporate and commercial transactions: Formulating a principle-based definition of legal risk.
Master Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
Evolutionary Psychology perspectives on Privacy Law
Master Philosophy — Principal Advisor