Brexit and the imminent launch of the European Unified Patent is likely to increase United Kingdom (UK) national patenting activity. It is worth reminding UK patent right holders of the recently enhanced UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) opinions service which shows potential as a low cost alternative to court revocation proceedings. The opinions service serves …
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The Federal Government has released draft legislation to amend the Australian Consumer Law (ACL). The draft is intended to give effect to recommendations made by Consumer Affairs Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ) last year to strengthen consumer protection in Australia. The proposed changes include: Public companies will no longer be excluded from unconscionable conduct protections. …
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We are pleased to announce that POF has been listed as tier 1 in ‘Prosecution and Strategy’ in the World Trademark Review 1000 (WTR) 2018. WTR is a globally renowned guide that shines a spotlight on firms and individuals that are deemed outstanding in trade mark development, prosecution and enforcement. Firms qualify for a listing …
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POF has once again hosted BioMelbourne’s ‘Hot or Not: Trends for 2018’. This annual panel discussion explores global trends for the coming year, determining what is HOT and what is NOT in 2018. This year’s panel focussed on what lies ahead for Melbourne’s biotechnology, medical technology and pharmaceutical industries. The event was a huge success, …
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POF is thrilled to announce that we’ve been selected as finalists for ‘Best IP Specialist Firm’ in this year’s Financial Review Client Choice Awards. Finalists are chosen based on real responses gathered from a wide range of users of professional services, and as such we’d like to extend our thanks for your support in bringing …
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In Pokémon Company International, Inc. v Redbubble Ltd [2017] FCA 1541 the Applicant, who is responsible for the licensing of Pokémon related products, alleged that the Respondent had breached the Australian Consumer Law by making misleading and deceptive representations and also infringed its copyright in various Pokémon characters. Redbubble provides an online platform for artists …
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Art can breathe life into any space, whether it’s in the home or in the office. POF has a history of displaying the artwork and talents of both our clients and staff members; when one of our valued clients, Stuart Bradshaw from Nufarm Limited, kindly offered us the opportunity to display some of his work, …
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Often the terms ‘confidential information’, ‘trade secret’ and ‘know-how’ are used interchangeably. However, each has a specific meaning which can affect the way an organisation controls and exploits that information. ‘Confidential Information’ is the overarching term for information which is confidential to an organisation. ‘Know-how’ is the knowledge of how to do something, and is …
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The Trans-Tasman IP Attorneys Board has today released a new Code of Conduct for Trans-Tasman Patent and Trade Marks Attorneys 2018, together with Guidelines to the Code of Conduct 2018. These changes have the potential to impact a number of patent attorney firms that are now listed on the Australian Stock Exchange. One of the …
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In Primary Health Care Limited v Commonwealth of Australia [2017] FCAFC 174, the Full Federal Court found the applicant’s trade marks were incapable of distinguishing the services of the subject of the application, in part because the target audience for those services included patients and the public health sector generally – not merely medical practitioners …
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