InsightsIntellectual Property Insights & Updates

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Marinecraft Survives Stabicraft’s Bid to Sink Its Registered Design

The Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand (IPONZ) has provided valuable guidance on design validity, authorship, and the treatment of technical defects in design registrations in its rejection of an application by to cancel a registered boat design.

Wave goodbye to waivers? General waivers of moral rights likely unenforceable under Australian law

General waivers of moral rights, as distinct from moral rights consents, are unlikely to be enforceable in Australia following a recent Federal Court decision.

Alexandra Williams

14 October 2026

Who owns the IP in AI-enabled biotech R&D?

Recent developments in AI-assisted research highlight the importance of documenting human involvement to secure IP rights.

Dr Christina Lucato

5 October 2026

Small gains, significant value: Patenting aircraft efficiency innovations

Small aircraft efficiency improvements can deliver significant commercial value at scale. This article looks at key fuel-saving aerospace technologies and why Australia may be an important jurisdiction for protecting incremental aviation innovations.

Duncan Joiner

24 September 2026

Design distinctiveness a matter of perspective

A recent Australian Designs Office decision shows how limited views in a citation may affect the assessment of design distinctiveness in Australia.

Davin Merritt

10 September 2026

Beyond the formulation – Protecting the performance behind aerospace materials

As aircraft and spacecraft are expected to operate for longer, under increasingly demanding thermal, chemical and mechanical conditions, aerospace materials must continue to evolve.

Dr Marianne Repacholi

4 September 2026

Not so Good, Not so Different – Aldi’s Designs weren’t different enough from Little Bellies

The Full Court held that the trial judge got it wrong, but still held Aldi infringed Little Bellies copyright in a number of its snack packaging designs.

Malcolm Bell

2 September 2026

On Cloud(s) nine? “CYCLONIC” trade mark application spins out

The Federal Court’s decision in On Clouds v Cyclonic considers the de novo nature of trade mark appeals in Australia and finds CYCLONIC and CYCLON deceptively similar.

Stefan Ladd

31 August 2026

Stopped Short of Estoppel: Orikan v VMS (No 2)

A recent Federal Court decision confirms that findings made in patent opposition proceedings may prevent the same issues being raised in later revocation proceedings.

Chris Schlicht

27 August 2026

How ‘Patentable’ are software-based Aerospace Inventions in Australia?

Patenting software-based aerospace inventions in Australia is not always straightforward. Not every valuable aerospace innovation will be eligible for patent protection in Australia.

Mark Williams

26 August 2026