Where Should I File My Patent Application? Inventors naturally want to obtain patent protection for their invention on as wide a scale as possible. As a result, we are regularly asked as patent attorneys about filing patent applications in every country in the world. Apart…
Shots Fired At The Colonel In Australia’s Burger Wars You might have heard that last year, Hungry Jack’s (Burger King in Australia) released their take on the Big Mac, a burger which they cheekily called the Big Jack. Hungry Jacks described their burger as “Two…
Time For A Business IP Spring Clean? The Jacarandas are in bloom, the NRL and AFL grand finals have come and gone, and Spring is definitely here. What better time to spring clean your IP portfolio and ensure that you have an effective and relevant…
Can I Patent My Recipe? In Australia, a patent application for a typical recipe is likely to be refused by the Patent Office on the basis that it lacks an inventive step or comprises excluded subject matter. The Patents Act 1990 gives the Commissioner the…
Can A Patent Attorney Steal My Idea? A common fear of inventors is having their invention stolen, and inventors are therefore often secretive about their work. To obtain a patent on an invention, however, the inventor must fully disclose their invention. In most cases, the…
Is It Obvious? Depends Who (And When) You Ask Novelty and inventive step are the two most crucial considerations when determining whether an invention is eligible for patent protection. They are also equally important when attempting to determine whether an existing patent was validly granted….
Australia will have a Grace Period for Registered Designs from 10 March 2022 Previously, Registered Designs had an absolute novelty requirement, which meant that if the design had been previously published, even just a day earlier on social media, for example, the designer was unable…
When To Patent and When To Launch You’ve done the hard work, shed the blood, sweat and tears. You’ve tested, polished, prototyped, test run and beta’d till you can’t beta no more… it’s finally time to take your idea to market. But have you protected…
Can You Use Your Brand Name Before It’s Registered As A Trade Mark? Brand names can make or break your company. Should your brand be registered as a trade mark before using it in marketing material? A trade mark provides you with legal ownership of…
Can I Trade Mark a Slogan? A slogan can capture the entire identity of a brand in one memorable phrase. From Nike’s ‘Just Do It’ to McDonald’s ‘I’m Lovin’ It’, catchy slogans can immediately allow someone to identify a brand without them seeing a logo…
