POF hosts BioMelbourne’s ‘Hot or Not: Trends for 2018’

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 listed as finalist in the 2018 Client Choice Awards

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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Redbubble gets caught by Pokémon

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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An exhibition of client talent

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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Confidential information, know-how and trade secrets: which one is which?

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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Be aware – IP owners targeted by scammers

Owners of patents, trade marks and registered designs are increasingly being targeted by unscrupulous organisations with fake invoices and unethical business practices. It is important that you and your accounting teams are alert to this. Check that invoice! Being an IP owner means that you will be required to pay annuities. These are payable every …
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Happy New Year and welcome to 2018!

We’d like to wish all of our readers a happy and prosperous new year as we begin 2018. 2017 was an eventful year in the Australian intellectual property (IP) industry. We saw the results of Productivity Commission’s inquiry into Australia’s IP system which has led to the phasing out of the innovation patent, and there’s …
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Full Court rejects registration of PRIMARY HEALTH CARE

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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