IP Australia fee hike

IP Australia is changing some of their fees to ensure that they continue to recover costs from administering intellectual property rights and their associated legislation. Most of the changes to the fees will commence from 12am AEDT, 1 October 2020. A list of the fee changes can be viewed here. Of interest to patent applicants, …
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POF recognised as a leading Trade Mark Prosecution firm

We are very pleased to announce that we’ve been recognised as a leading Trade Mark Prosecution firm by Asia IP in their 2020 Trade Mark Survey. This achievement is a great reflection of the dedication and hard work of our Trade Mark attorneys. Asia IP determines their rankings via thousands of corporate counsels worldwide, who …
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Iron Chef defeated in trade mark cook-off

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In a recent Australian Trade Mark Office decision, Fuji Television Network Inc, owner of the television show IRON CHEF, has failed in its bid to prevent the registration of IRON CHEF in respect of online food deliveries by Iron Chef Pizza Pty Ltd. Iron Chef is a Japanese themed cook-off television show with a cult following.  The …
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Flawed mental function saves the day in patent opposition

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In a recent Australian Patent Office decision[1], an extension of time to file a complete Australian patent application was allowed despite a third party opposition.  The delegate of the Commissioner of Patents accepted that flawed mental function by the applicant in misunderstanding advice provided by their patent attorney was the cause of missing the deadline.   Extensions …
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Ferrari takes its 488 Pista Spider design to a hearing and prevails

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The Australian Designs Office has recently issued its decision[1] concerning an adverse examination report for a Car and Toy Car design registration owned by Ferrari. The Design relates to the 488 Pista Spider, Ferrari’s best ever open-top performance vehicle. Pleasingly for Ferrari the Australian Designs Office granted a certificate of examination on 14 July 2020. …
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COVID-19: Put staff at the centre of your decision making

The first time we really paid attention to COVID-19 was in early February this year. By mid-March, we had set-up a COVID-19 Response Team including our heads of IT and People & Development, reviewed our readiness to have everyone working from home, run a successful IT stress test with 40% of our people working from …
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CSIRO developing technologies and solutions in response to COVID-19

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The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) is urgently investigating and developing new technologies aimed at limiting the spread of COVID-19 infection. One example technology is a new isolation hood device developed by CSIRO to reduce the risk of infectious particle transmission between individuals in close proximity. It is envisioned that the isolation hood …
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No compensation for the Commonwealth: Australia v Sanofi

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In the keenly awaited decision in Commonwealth of Australia v Sanofi1, the Federal Court has dismissed the Commonwealth’s $325 million claim for compensation made against Sanofi arising from a patent infringement suit brought against Apotex Australia (Apotex), the Australian subsidiary of the Canadian generic drug company Apotex Canada. Read more here >>