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Archived news for 2007, 2008 and 2009
 
Revised Designs Examiners' Manual Part 2 now available online
IP Lodgement Point lands in Brisbane 6 April 2010
Advisory Council on Intellectual Property report released - Review of Post-Grant Patent Enforcement Strategies
IP Australia is reviewing its websites and wants your help
Peer-to-Patent Australia Trial to Enter Second Phase
Commercialisation Australia to Cover IP Costs
Review of enforcement of PBR
Websites indicating a potential connection with IP Australia
How to make your brand great - Nationwide breakfast series
4 March 2010
Part 2 of the Designs Examination Manual has been Revised
Part 2 of the Australian Designs Office Examination Manual has undergone a review. Further information and additional chapters have been published to assist examiners. The content in part 2 of the manual includes searching, examination and procedural and legal maters relevant to the examination of design applications under the Designs Act 2003.
As a consequence of the review, and for consistency, numbering of chapters and related content have also been updated.
Part 2 of the Manual is now available on-line.
2 March 2010
IP Lodgement Point lands in Brisbane 6 April 2010
IP Australia’s new state based lodgement services (IP Lodgement Point) commence in Brisbane Tuesday 6 April 2010. From this date, customers in Brisbane wishing to lodge in person can do so at the CBD based Australia Post GPO which is located at 261 Queen Street.
The new service is available to IP Australia customers from 9am to 5pm weekdays. Customers can make lodgements and payments relating to registered IP rights and new applications for trade marks, designs or patents and receive a filing date for the lodgement.
The new service arrangements have already commenced in all other states and territories across the country and customers are using the service to lodge IP documents and make payments successfully. Information sessions will be held for Brisbane customers on Tuesday 23 March 2010 to outline the new arrangements and demonstrate to customers the new process and benefits.
Before lodging customers should visit the State office Transition page on the website for details on what they need to do before proceeding to the IP Lodgement Point or contact our Customer Service Centre on 1300 65 10 10 for more information.
For details regarding the information sessions please call IP Australia on 1300 65 10 10.
25 February 2010
Advisory Council on Intellectual Property report released - Review of Post-Grant Patent Enforcement Strategies
Over recent years there have been repeated calls from patent owners in Australia, particularly individuals and small to medium sized enterprises, concerning the difficulties associated with enforcing their patent rights . After extensive consultation and consideration, the Advisory Council on Intellectual Property presented its final report to the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Kim Carr, in January 2010.
The Federal Government has now released ACIP's report and it is available here.
12 February 2010
IP Australia is reviewing its websites and wants your help
If you are a designer, inventor, innovator, business owner or just about anyone who has an idea, then IP Australia want to speak to you.
Our goal is to create a user focused website which is easy to use and makes finding information simple.
You can provide as much or as little feedback as you like. It can be as simple as 5 minute phone call or filling out the 3 minute survey (no longer active), otherwise you might want to attend a feedback session (see details below).
All feedback is considered confidential and will only be used for improving IP Australia’s websites.
To contribute to the IP Australia website review, please contact Geoff Mason in the Web Presence Delivery Team on 02 6283 2015, follow the “Help us improve our website” link or email webadmin@ipaustralia.gov.au.
About the sessions
The sessions aim to get an understanding of the people who are using the website, what they are looking for and whether they can find the information they need.
The sessions may involve phone or in-person interviews and short workshops. We would like to get a mixture of customers – those that have already filed for a trade mark, patent, PBR or design – as well as customers who haven’t done so yet (they might be interested in finding out more about IP, or have thought about applying for an IP right.)
The sessions will be held at times and locations to suit groups of people over the coming month – IP Australia will contact all volunteers to ensure they are happy to participate at a specific time and location.
9 February 2010
Peer-to-Patent Australia Trial to Enter Second Phase
Australia’s first Peer-to-Patent pilot project is approaching its half-way point.
The patent applications currently on the Peer-to-Patent Australia website will be open for peer review until 9 March 2010. The second phase of the project will then commence, with a new set of patent applications becoming available on the website for peer review.
IP Australia and QUT invite appropriately qualified people to contribute to the second phase of this groundbreaking pilot project. Members of the public are encouraged to join the online peer community to review the patent applications and to identify prior art. Patent applications in the fields of business methods and computer software are also encouraged to be put forward.
The pilot has made a successful start, following its launch in December 2009. The community of reviewers has identified 27 prior art references and contributed 57 comments in the first eight weeks of operation.
The Peer-to-Patent Australia trial is aimed at supporting the patent examination process, creating a more robust patent system and improving the validity of granted patents.
Patent applicants who wish to put forward a patent application to be peer reviewed should contact Ben McEniery at QUT on (07) 3138 2833 or email b.mceniery@qut.edu.au. To register as a peer reviewer, visit the Peer-to-Patent Australia website at www.peertopatent.org.au. For other inquiries contact Paulette Paterson at IP Australia on (02) 6283 2749 or email Paulette.paterson@ipaustralia.gov.au.
8 February 2010
Commercialisation Australia to Cover IP Costs
In January, the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research launched Commercialisation Australia, a new initiative to assist researchers, entrepreneurs and innovative companies to convert ideas into successful commercial ventures.
Commercialisation Australia will take a hands-on approach to help bring ideas to market offering a range of tailored assistance measures. Measures include: specialist business advice and services, financial support to engage experienced executives, and grants for proof of concept and early stage commercialisation activities.
Up to $50,000 will be available to firms to access specialist business advice and services including intellectual property management. Eligible expenditure include fees for the cost of filing a patent application, patent search and examination fees, and annual patent maintenance fees.
The program will be available to universities and other private sector research organisations, individuals and private enterprises.
Applications for Commercialisation Australia assistance are now being accepted. The first step for potential applicants is to complete a Pre-Applications checklist. Applications will be assessed through a competitive, merit based process.
For more information visit the Commercialisation Australia website www.commercialisationaustralia.gov.au.
1 February 2010
Review of enforcement of PBR
In 2005, the Government asked the Advisory Council on Intellectual Property (ACIP) to:
inquire, report and make recommendations to the Australian Government on issues relating to the enforcement of plant breeder’s rights in Australia and to consider possible strategies to assist Australian plant breeder’s rights holders to effectively enforce valid rights. The review should include a consideration of whether any practices and procedures relating to the enforcement of plant breeder’s rights are appropriate to be referred to the Federal Magistrates Court.
Download ACIP's response to this request.
28 January 2010
Websites indicating a potential connection with IP Australia
IP Australia has recently become aware of a website operated by a Perth based business, 4webmarketing.biz, that uses the phrase 'Trade Mark Office Australia' as the title of its webpage.
There are various other references on this website to words, phrases and signs that may lead some to believe the business is officially connected with the Trade Marks Office or IP Australia more generally.
Please be aware that this business has no official connection to IP Australia. Information and advice provided by this business does not reflect the views of the Registrar of Trade Marks or her delegates.
If you become aware of any website that potentially implies an official connection with IP Australia, please contact us. Such activities may be in breach of the Trade Marks Act and federal and state consumer protection legislation. Similarly, if you are confused as to whether any information found on the Internet is provided by IP Australia, please contact us on +61 2 6283 2999.
20 January 2010
How to make your brand great - Nationwide breakfast series
Uncover the secrets of creating and protecting a leading brand.
Why are some brands more successful than others? Why do consumers choose one brand over another? How do the best brands protect their interests in the modern market place?
Join IP Australia and a keynote speaker for breakfast and learn about two vital issues for business — branding and intellectual property.
During this event, delegates will discover how to:
- harness the benefits of the trade mark system in creating or evolving a distinctive brand personality;
- use domain names as a way of enhancing a brand;
- apply real-life strategies to help expand a brand into overseas markets;
- identify key ownership considerations; and
- implement strategies to deal with direct competitors and maintain brand integrity.
Attendees will also receive access to a free consultation with an intellectual property professional upon request.
Events are being held in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth.
Places are limited - book now
Please feel free to forward this invitation to anyone who may be interested.
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