The lecture addresses the intersection between intellectual property and public law. Understanding the importance of this intersection includes an appreciation of how key public law principles apply in the field of intellectual property law. The lecture focuses on three such areas of intersection. The first area is constitutional law, to what extent does the Constitution provide, and limit, legislative power in the area of intellectual property. The second area is the availability of judicial review of administrative action relating to intellectual property. The third area is more abstract, considering what normative rationales have underpinned the development of intellectual property law.