Maree Sainsbury

Professor Maree Sainsbury is a Professor at the Canberra Law School, University of Canberra. Her research focuses on copyright law, indigenous intellectual property, colonial legal history, and legal education innovation. She has supervised 7 research students and led projects like the Australian Legal Histories Libraries (2015–2020). Her work bridges historical legal frameworks with contemporary issues such as access to justice for small businesses and moral rights in digital contexts.

Her research explores topics including the Victorian Copyright Act of 1869, colonial legal systems' impacts, and indigenous cultural expression protections. Notable contributions include analyses of parody/satire copyright defenses and the role of design law in clean energy sectors. She advocates for interdisciplinary legal teaching methods and has published widely on statutory interpretation and legal pedagogy.

Professor Sainsbury’s articles highlight trends in copyright law’s evolution, colonial legal legacies, and the intersection of IP with cultural heritage. Her work emphasizes practical legal education reforms and equitable access to justice for marginalized groups, including small businesses and indigenous communities.

In advising, she has guided students through complex legal research projects. Grants include leadership of the Australian Legal Histories Libraries project, enhancing access to historical legal resources. Her contributions to legal education focus on integrating research outcomes into teaching, particularly in intensive graduate programs.