On 28 January 2016, POF hosted the first BioMelbourne Network event for the year, ‘Hot or Not Trends for 2016’. The talk covered the future directions in biotechnology, medical technology, investment, IP, research, product development and health innovation. The event was so popular, tickets sold out instantly! One of our Partners in our Chemistry and Life …
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On 7 October 2015, IP Australia announced that they had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the European patent office (EPO) to increase bilateral cooperation between the two offices with the aim of delivering benefits to users of the patent systems in both Australia and the European community. The areas of potential collaboration between …
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We are delighted to announce that Phillips Ormonde Fitzpatrick has won both ‘Engineering Law Firm of the Year in Australia’ and ‘Patents Law Firm of the Year in Australia’ in the 2016 Corporate Intl Magazine Global Awards. The awards mark excellence for the world’s leading advisers who have demonstrated quality expertise and service. Winners are selected based on …
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The Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement was finally concluded on 5 October, 2015 with the full text of the Agreement made public on 5 November. The Agreement is yet to be ratified by signatory countries, although at this stage there is nothing to suggest that ratification will not take place. Signatories to the TPP include …
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The Federal Government’s innovation statement, released on 7 December 2015, has announced Government-funded grants that will back business investments and projects. The funding programs will assist in areas of Research and Development, Business Improvement and Growth, Accelerated Commercialisation Activities and Marketing and Commercialisation. One particular funding program that may be of interest to POF’s Victorian-based …
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The Apple App store has over a million apps. Tens of thousands of these apps relate to health, and many are downloadable for a small fee. A question we are often asked is, “how do you protect your app against competitors?”. Should you bother? In deciding whether or not it’s worth pursuing IP protection, thought …
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In the recent case AstraZeneca AB v Apotex Pty Ltd & Ors [2015] HCA 30, the High Court unanimously found that AstraZeneca’s patent for its cholesterol lowering drug rosuvastatin lacked inventive step and was therefore invalid. AstraZeneca’s patent was directed at low dosage levels of rosuvastatin, a commercially successful product marketed under the brand Crestor®. …
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Trade mark rights are granted on a national basis, making it necessary to register in each country or region in which protection is required. In light of separate registrations being necessary in each country of interest, filing and maintenance costs can escalate quickly if there are a number of jurisdictions where protection is sought. In …
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From the hand of nature to the hand of man Humans have been tinkering with the genetic make-up of plants and animals for almost 10,000 years through selective breeding. Throughout this period, humans have selected plants and animals that have spontaneously mutated to possess desirable features. This has turned the Wolf into Great Danes and …
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One of the joys of being a lawyer is that your friends ask your advice on every legal issue from parking tickets to extradition, regardless of your area of practice. Recently a friend asked me whether he should sign an agreement with his personal trainer, which excluded liability for everything I could think of and …
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