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What's new archived - 2007

IP Australia Wins Comcover Risk Management Award
Updates to Trade Marks online forms and ATMOSS
The International Trademark Association (INTA) presents its first educational conference in Australia, in cooperation with IP Australia, March 11 – 12, 2008.
IP Australia - IPONZ Comparative Examination Project
Resignation of Director General.
IPRIA releases study of Australians doing business in China.
Declaration of the days in 2008 when the Designs Office, the Patent Office, the PBR Office and the Trade Marks Office and their sub-offices are taken not to be open for business, plus Family and Community Day 6 November 2007 in the Australian Capital Territory.
Changes to regulations made under ss 27(1), 45(3) and 101D of the Patents Act 1990.
Overview of responses to the public consultation paper Removal of the obligation to lodge search results under subsection 45(3) and section 101D of the Patents Act 1990.
IP Australia has launched our plan for the future, the IP Australia Strategic Statement 2007-2012
Consultation on the Incorporation of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys
New Professional Standards Board appointed
Australia and India Agree to Joint Study on a Bilateral FTA
Indonesia-Australia FTA Feasibility Study
Proposed changes to regulations to assist the exchange of patent information
Executive Change at IP Australia
An invitation to Australia's floral spectacular from IP Australia
IP Australia Wins IT Project Management Award
Development of the Madrid System - Request for Comment on the Future of the Madrid Protocol September 2007
Preview release of AusPat available
Senior Trade Mark Officials' Forum 13-14 March 2008, Sydney
Stopping Fakes: Building Awareness - 6 September, Sydney
IP Australia receives first business to business transaction
Trade Marks - Online Registration and Renewal Payments Now Available
Quality Excellence Award for IP Australia
New laws ensure more freedom for Australian innovators
Designs Examiners' Manual - updates available
Trade Marks - Legislation and Examination Practice in Relation to Divisional Applications
Trade Marks Office Manual of Practice and Procedure - Revision of Parts 22 and 28
IP Australia offers a Headstart to business
IP Enforcement budget increase
Reducing Red Tape for Patent Applications
Reminder of Public Holidays
2007 Australian Design Awards
Designs Achieves ISO 9001:2000 Certification
Public Consultation: Patent, Trade Marks & WIPO Treaties.
Consultation on proposed changes to regulations made under ss.45(3) and 101D of the Patents Act 1990
Inquiry into Extending the Duration of PBR
20 Years of Plant Breeder's Rights in Australia Symposium
Australia celebrates innovation on World IP Day
Position Papers on Changes to Patent and TM Attorney Regimes
IP will feature on two television shows in the next week
Declaration of the days when the Designs Office, the Patent Office, the PBR Office and the Trade Marks Office and their sub-offices are taken not to be open for business
Advisory Council on Intellectual Property - Review of post-grant Patent Enforcement Strategies
Extension of time to make submissions - Ambush Marketing Legislation Review
View in 2007: Intellectual Property and new markets in China
Government response to ACIP recommendations regarding jurisdiction of the Federal Magistrates Service
World IP Day 2007 is coming
PCT Rule changes from 1 April 2007
New Bank for IP Australia from 1 April 2007
Confidential Material Served in Trade Mark Oppositions
Ambush Marketing Legislation Review
Intellectual Property Laws Amendment Regulations 2007
Preview of User Interface for new Patent Search Tool
IP Australia to Support KCA Master Class Event
Plant Breeder’s Rights turns 20 today
Change of Bank for IP Australia from 1 April 2007
Protocol Amending the Trips Agreement — Consideration Of Acceptance By Australia
Fee Changes from 1 March 2007
1000 Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys in Australia
Proclamation of the Trade Marks Amendment Act 2006
Information and Updates on Free Trade Agreements
United States and Australia to Extend Cooperation on Patent Search and Examination Services
Australia Building Stronger IP in the Asia-Pacific
The Future of Intellectual Property in the Asia-Pacific Debated
Proposed Trade Mark Fees
Patent data at state libraries
Attorney-General Philip Ruddock to open Trading Ideas
Designs Hit 100 — Still Going Strong
Revised Electronic Business Rules now available
2007 Customer Service Charter launched

7 December 2007
IP Australia Wins Comcover Risk Management Award

IP Australia has also won a Highly Commended award in the Risk Initiative category of the 2007 Awards for Excellence in Risk Management from Comcover. This prestigious award is given to those government agencies that have achieved excellence by excelling in the use of risk management to inform and guide the successful implementation of Government policy or in achieving agency outcomes.

ISO 9001:2000 delivers Risk Management Award for IP Australia

1 December 2007
Updates to Trade Marks online forms and ATMOSS

On 1 December 2007, several changes were made to Trade Marks online forms and the ATMOSS search as part of a Trade Marks Systems Maintenance release. A summary of these changes is provided in the attached document.

30 November 2007
The International Trademark Association (INTA) presents its first educational conference in Australia, in cooperation with IP Australia, March 11 – 12, 2008.

INTA has joined forces with IP Australia to present a two day conference for industry at The Sheraton on the Park Hotel in Sydney’s CBD. This is the first time that the International Trademark Association (INTA) has held this educational conference in Australia.

Entitled Trademark Regatta – Asia-Pacific, the conference will provide brand owners, trade mark professionals and government officials with the opportunity to hear a wide range of speakers on topical issues impacting on the trade mark system and affecting our region.

Sessions will be conducted on the future direction of trade marks, indigenous peoples and trade marks, non traditional trade marks – a review of trade mark office and court decisions, successful branding strategies and more.

Speakers from around the globe are scheduled to appear as part of the program including Paul Twomey, Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, Owen J. Malone, Foster's Group Limited, Ernesto Rubio, World Intellectual Property Organization, Lynne G. Beresford, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Wubbo de Boer, Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market and Woon Yin Liew, Intellectual Property Office of Singapore.

The full program is now available on-line. Early bird registration continues through to February 2008. To register, visit www.inta.org/go/regatta.

9 November 2007
IP Australia - IPONZ Comparative Examination Project.

IP Australia and the Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand (IPONZ) jointly undertook a project in May 2006 to explore the potential for alignment of trade marks examination practices between the two Offices. Stage 1 of this project is now complete.

IP Australia - IPONZ Comparative Examination Project outcomes

2 November 2007
Resignation of Director General.

Dr Ian Heath has announced his resignation as the Director General of IP Australia. Dr Heath advised IP Australia staff on the 1st of November and the position will be advertised in the national press shortly.

Dr Heath has been Director General of IP Australia since July 1999. Under his leadership IP Australia has undertaken a series of significant projects all designed to help the organisation achieve its strategic objectives and vision. As Director General, he led the organisation to develop improved approaches to customer service and to embark on the redevelopment of its aging IT systems. He has taken a special interest in some key policy areas including the international approaches to the protection of traditional knowledge and the domestic development of approaches to patenting in sensitive areas such as gene technology and business methods. He has also been a strong supporter of IP Australia's ongoing efforts in the field of public education and awareness of intellectual property.

Dr Heath will remain in the position of Director General until his successor is able to take up the position.

2 November 2007
IPRIA releases study of Australians doing business in China.

The Intellectual Property Research Institute of Australia (IPRIA)collated responses from a survey of over 2,100 businesses across Australia to assess the extent of both their business dealings with China and their commercial interest in IP. The survey results reveal that among Australian businesses which have direct business dealings with China, IP issues (registration, examination and enforcement) are of less concern than Chinese regulations and legal transparency. Among the IP issues covered in the survey, IP enforcement poses the greatest problem for Australian businesses.

This full text of the paper is available here

18 October 2007
Declaration of the days in 2008 when the Designs Office, the Patent Office, the PBR Office and the Trade Marks Office and their sub-offices are taken not to be open for business, plus Family and Community Day 6 November 2007 in the Australian Capital Territory.

On 16 October 2007, the Director General of IP Australia declared under the close-down provisions the days when the Canberra offices and the State offices will not be open for business for the 2008 Calendar year. A copy of the declaration is attached. You will note that it covers the period from 1 January 2008 to 1 January 2009: from the first day of the 2008 Calendar year to the last day of IP Australia’s 2008 Christmas to New Year close-down.

For further information see the official notice.

18 October 2007
Changes to regulations made under ss 27(1), 45(3) and 101D of the Patents Act 1990.

On 17 October 2007, the Federal Executive Council made the Patents Amendment Regulations 2007 (No. 1). The amendment regulations were registered today, in the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments, and appear on ComLaw (www.comlaw.gov.au).

With effect from 22 October 2007, the amendment regulations will substantially remove the requirement to inform IP Australia of the results of documentary searches by, or on behalf of, foreign patent offices. The amendment regulations will also allow notices of matters affecting the validity of a standard patent to be filed up to three months from the date of advertisement of acceptance of an application.

For further information see the official notice.

18 October 2007
Overview of responses to the public consultation paper Removal of the obligation to lodge search results under subsection 45(3) and section 101D of the Patents Act 1990.

In May 2007, IP Australia consulted on the proposed removal of the obligation to lodge search results under subsection 45(3) and section 101D of the Patents Act 1990. The consultation paper is available here. The following paper provides an overview of the submissions received in response to the consultation paper.

Overview of responses to consultation on proposed changes to regulations made under ss45(3) and 101D of the Patents Act 1990

18 October 2007
IP Australia has launched our plan for the future, the IP Australia Strategic Statement 2007-2012

IP Australia's Strategic Statement 2007-2012 sets the priorities that will strengthen and sustain the work of the organisation over the next 5 years. It guides the organisation's future directions so it can continue to fulfil its purpose of providing an intellectual property system that promotes innovation, investment and international competitiveness for the benefit of all Australians.

IP Australia’s Strategic Statement 2007-2012.

17 October 2007
Consultation on the Incorporation of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys

IP Australia is consulting on the preferred incorporation model for patent and trade mark attorneys following discussions with peak representative organisations.

The proposed model provides for individual patent attorneys to retain personal responsibility for discipline and complaints; a Code of conduct to apply to all individual attorneys within a company; and an incorporated patent attorney company must have at least one director who is a registered patent attorney. There will also be a compulsory requirement for all patent attorneys whether they are incorporated or not to have professional indemnity insurance.

As indicated in the consultation paper, written comments are sought by 30 November 2007.

Consultation paper for patent attorney incorporation - October 2007

8 October 2007
New Professional Standards Board appointed

The Minister for Tourism, Industry and Resources, the Hon Ian Macfarlane MP, has appointed five new members, and re-appointed two former members to the Professional Standards Board for Patent Attorneys. These appointments, which were made on 25 September 2007, are for a three-year term.

The following members were appointed on 25 September 2007:

• Prof. Carrick Martin (Chair)(re-appointed) NSW
• Ms. Karen Sinclair Patent & Trade Marks Attorney VIC
• Dr. Mark Horsburgh Patent & Trade Marks Attorney QLD
• Prof. Jill McKeough Academic NSW
• Ms. Margaret Brown IP User Representative QLD
• Ms. Anne Makrigiorgos Patent & Trade Marks Attorney VIC
• Mr. John King (re-appointed) Patent & Trade Marks Attorney WA

In addition the following members are also on the Board, they were appointed in 2006 for a 3 year-term:

• Mr. David Webber Patent & Trade Marks Attorney VIC
• Ms. Julie Balance Patent Attorney NZ

Ex-officio member:

• Dr. Ian Heath IP Australia ACT

The Board has the role of administering the education and discipline regimes for patent and trade marks attorneys. Board members are drawn from the senior ranks of the attorney profession as well as leading lawyers and academics. Most Australian states are represented on the Board with one member, Ms Julie Ballance, residing in New Zealand. Dr Ian Heath, ex-officio member, is the Director General of IP Australia (the Patents, Trade Marks, Designs and Plant Breeders Rights Office).

2 October 2007
Australia and India Agree to Joint Study on a Bilateral FTA

On 31 August, the Minister for Trade, Warren Truss, announced that Australia and India have agreed to undertake a joint feasibility study into the merits of an FTA between the two countries. For a copy of the media release, please go to www.trademinister.gov.au/releases/2007/wtt094_07.html

2 October 2007
Indonesia-Australia FTA Feasibility Study

On 27 July 2007, Prime Minister Howard and the Indonesian President Yudhoyono, announced that a joint feasibility study would be undertaken into the merits of a free trade agreement (FTA) between Australia and Indonesia.

For more details on the Study and in relation to making submissions please go to http://www.dfat.gov.au/geo/indonesia/ia-fta.html

Submissions: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has invited submissions on issues relevant to this FTA feasibility study, including stakeholder views on issues relating to doing business in Indonesia, such as intellectual property.

Alternatively, IP Australia will be happy to receive submissions on Indonesia and IP and pass them on to DFAT.

IP Australia contact: Joanne Rush, Assistant Director, International Policy.

19 September 2007
Proposed changes to regulations to assist the exchange of patent information

IP Australia is consulting on proposed changes to the Patents Regulations 1991. These changes would extend the circumstances under which the Commissioner of Patents may make priority documents and other patent documents available to WIPO and other IP offices. The changes would also reduce the circumstances where applicants are required to routinely file copies of various patent documents with IP Australia when the documents are not immediately required by IP Australia or, if required, are available to it from an IP office.

As indicated in the consultation paper, submissions are due by COB, Wednesday 17 October 2007.

Consultation paper on exchanging patent information

19 September 2007
Executive Change at IP Australia

The structure of IP Australia’s Executive will be changing in recognition of the growth in the role and responsibilities of the organisation.

The role and responsibilities of IP Australia have been growing in response to the changing IP environment for some time. IP Australia has had involvement in a range of inter-governmental and inter-departmental committees looking at issues as diverse as traditional knowledge, bio-diversity, ambush marketing, IP enforcement, IP management in government and IP in health. We expect our involvement in such committees to expand. Similarly IP Australia has a heavy commitment to resource and participate in the negotiation of IP chapters in free trade agreements with countries such as China, USA, Japan, Chile, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia as well as with ASEAN and New Zealand.

The importance of IP to business has also been directly reflected in the continuing growth of the workload in the core IP rights examination areas, which in turn has led to growth in the staffing of these areas. This has added to the complexity of managing a growing organisation in a dynamic environment. Therefore the change in IP Australia’s Executive structure reflects this growing importance of IP in today’s global economy.

The most significant change is the creation of a Deputy Director General position. This position was advertised nationally and Ms Fatima Beattie, the current Commissioner of Patents, was selected as the successful candidate. She will be responsible for creating and leading the Division of IP Rights which covers areas of Customer Operations, Designs, Plant Breeder’s Rights, Trade Marks and Patents. This position also carries with it the statutory positions of Commissioner of Patents, Registrar of Trade Marks, Registrar of Designs and Registrar of Plant Breeder’s Rights.

The Deputy Director General position will take a leadership role for the areas of the organisation directly responsible for the searching, examining and maintaining the IP rights we administer.

Bringing these areas together as an IP Rights Division under a Deputy position will provide the organisation with an improved capacity to better manage the balance of responsibility in these areas, further promote coherence in the approaches across the different rights, and create the opportunity and flexibility for the organisation to adapt to changes in the IP environment.

In reality, for IP Australia’s customers it will be business as usual, however the signature block on trade marks, designs and plant breeder’s rights certificates will be updated to reflect Ms Beattie’s new role.

14 September 2007

An invitation to Australia’s floral spectacular from IP Australia

IP Australia invites you to look ‘n’ learn about Plant Breeder’s Rights at Australia’s premier floral festival, Floriade. Given this year’s festival theme - Aussie Icons, Myths and Legends, the festival represents a perfect opportunity to promote Aussie innovation and plant breeder’s rights.

Approximately one new plant variety is registered in Australia each day - many of which will be in bloom during the month long Floriade event in Canberra.

Festival highlights include the IP Australia Show Garden and the Look ‘n’ Learn Marquee. The Marquee is Floriade's centre for learning with 30 days full of workshops, displays, demonstrations and activities planned. You can visit IP Australia inside the marquee between 8 and 14 October.

IP Australia will be giving away a swag of Aussie innovations representing different forms of IP including a Victor lawn mower, Ryobi edge trimmer and your height in Weetbix (recently voted Australia’s favourite trademark).

Whether you live in Canberra or are planning a trip, visit the IP Australia exhibit at Floriade and help us celebrate intellectual property in all its forms.

Floriade commences on 15 September. If you want to learn more about the festival program visit www.floriadeaustralia.com.au

If you want to pre-order the new plant breeder’s rights application kit email marketing@ipaustralia.gov.au

12 September 2007
IP Australia Wins IT Project Management Award

IP Australia's performance in project management was recognised by the ACT Chapter of the Australian Institute of Project Management (AIPM) at its annual awards night. IP Australia won the award for Information Technology Projects. The award was in relation to IP Australia's work in upgrading its business processes and IT systems to cater for the new International Patent Classification System introduced on 1 January 2006.

One of the more challenging aspects of the project was the coordination between WIPO, IP Australia staff and IP Australia's customers both domestically and internationally. Success of the Project was further acknowledged when WIPO named Australia as one of only a handful of countries to adopt the change in time for the global implementation of the new indexing system.

IP Australia is proud of its efforts in delivering timely services to customers and this award recognises the strong management principles IP Australia applies in its service delivery.

The IP Australia submission will now be automatically entered into the AIPM National Awards to be held in Tasmania later this year.

10 September 2007
Development of the Madrid System - Request for Comment on the Future of the Madrid Protocol September 2007

IP Australia is seeking comment from trade mark owners and their representatives on issues relating to the current and future operation of the Madrid Protocol in the context of ongoing international consideration of the future development of the Madrid system.

It would be helpful if comments could reach IP Australia by 9 November 2007 in order for them to be considered when we contribute to a WIPO Secretariat paper at the end of 2007.

However, as some of the issues will be discussed later in 2008, input at a later time would also be very useful.

Email comments may be sent to:
Anne.Drake@ipaustralia.gov.au and Barbara.Bennett@ipaustralia.gov.au

There will also be opportunities for further comment as the international process continues.

Development of the Madrid System - Request for Comment on the Future of the Madrid Protocol September 2007

5 September 2007
Preview release of AusPat available

IP Australia is pleased to advise that a preview of AusPat is now available. AusPat is the new search system for Australian patent data being developed by IP Australia.

You’re invited to take a five step preview of AusPat

1. Surf – to http://www.ipaustralia.gov.au/auspat/
2. Search – use Quick, Structured and Advanced search interfaces
3. See – view, sort and customise your results
4. Save – use MyList and print your results
5. Share – complete either the 1, 5 or 15 minute survey

More information

A User Guide and context specific Help files are available from the footer of each page.

AusPat is being developed as part of the Patent Search Strategy project.

Questions

If you have any questions, please contact the project’s Communications Manager, Victor Zalakos at victor.zalakos@ipaustralia.gov.au

28 August 2007
Senior Trade Mark Officials' Forum 13-14 March 2008, Sydney

In 2008 Sydney, Australia will be the location for two important trade marks events. Firstly, on 11-12 March, the International Trade Mark Association (INTA) / IP Australia conference, Trade Mark Regatta - Asia Pacific, will take place. This conference will immediately precede the Senior Trade Mark Officials’ Forum on 13-14 March.
This forum is proudly hosted by IP Australia.

23 August 2007
Stopping Fakes: Building Awareness - 6 September, Sydney

IP Australia is supporting an official APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) event on the margins of the 2007 APEC Business Forum:

Stopping Fakes: Building Awareness A Dialogue on Public Education

September 6, 7.30am – 11am
Hilton Hotel, Sydney, Australia
488 George St, Sydney, NSW, 2000, Australia

Featuring

John S. Chen
Chairman, CEO and President
Sybase Inc.

Thomas J. Donohue
President and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Mark Johnson
Chair of ABAC 2007

At the event the ABAC publication Stopping Fakes: Building Awareness will be launched. The publication explores examples of IP public education and awareness activities in the APEC region. The event features government and business leaders discussing the hallmarks of successful campaigns as well as opportunities for innovation and improvement. To view the agenda, please click here.

A light continental breakfast will be served from 7.30am, forum will commence at 8am.

Cost: $30. Click here to register and make payment.

For security purposes all attendees and their details must be registered.

14 August 2007
IP Australia receives first business to business transaction

In an Australian first, IP Australia has received patent applications from F B Rice & Co via our new business to business channel. These first transactions were successful with IP Australia and FB Rice happy with the effective and efficient outcomes.

The new initiative was launched by IP Australia to allow larger organisations to lodge high volume business transactions through a business to business (B2B) channel via a secure internet channel. The transaction fees are automatically paid (via Direct Debit) and loaded into IP Australia’s business systems for processing.

Read the full article (PDF)

13 August 2007
Trade Marks - Online Registration and Renewal Payments Now Available

Managing your trade mark rights just got easier, with the introduction of an online payment facility for trade mark registration and renewal fees. Users can now pay their trade mark registrations and renewals via a secure online facility using a credit card.

For more information,or to use the facility, go to the trade mark registration and renewal payments page

7 August 2007
Quality Excellence Award for IP Australia

IP Australia has been awarded the inaugural Chairman's Award for Management System Excellence by one of Australia's largest and most experienced third party certification bodies, NCS International. Director General Dr Ian Heath received the Chairman's Award 2007 on behalf of IP Australia from Mr Greg Jewson, CEO of NCS International, at a ceremony in Canberra, Australia. NCS International congratulated IP Australia for their outstanding commitment to quality and their achievements as an industry leader in implementing ISO 9001 quality management across key activities. "This prestigious award celebrates our commitment as an organisation to best practice and again recognises us as one of Australia's premier public service delivery agencies," Dr Heath said. "This recognition would not have been possible were it not for the excellent work and commitment of our staff in delivering high quality service."

7 August 2007
New laws ensure more freedom for Australian innovators

The Hon Bob Baldwin, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources, announced that the Government has agreed to amend the Patents Act to define an experimental use exception. The amendment would clarify the kinds of research activities that could be done without infringing on a patent holder's rights, such as: determining how an invention worked; determining an invention's scope; determining the validity of patent claims; or improving an invention. This response is to the Advisory Council on Intellectual Property (ACIP) report: Patents and Experimental Use.

To view the full response, click here.

View the Media Release

31 July 2007
Designs Examiners' Manual - updates available

The Designs Examiners' Manual is under development. Material is presently available on formalities in Part 1, and further content has been added to Part 2 (Examination) including searching, examination and some other practices. Further information is under development and will be published when available.

Australian Designs Office Examination Manual

30 July 2007
Trade Marks - Legislation and Examination Practice in Relation to Divisional Applications

Amended provisions for divisional trade mark applications came into effect on 27 March 2007. The intent was to simplify the provisions and to avoid duplication of goods and/or services being claimed in both the divisional application and the parent application. A number of divisional applications filed on or after 27 March 2007 have been invalid. An information notice about some of the requirements for filing divisionals has been issued via an Official Notice in the Australian Journal of Trade Marks.

View the Official Notice

9 July 2007
Trade Marks Office Manual of Practice and Procedure - Revision of Parts 22 and 28

Parts 22 and 28 of the Trade Marks Office Manual of Practice and Procedure have been amended. The amendments reflect revised office practice in relation to the application of section 41 and the provisions relating to honest concurrent use, prior user or other circumstances.

For more information please refer to the official notice.

2 July 2007
IP Australia offers a Headstart to business

The world of trade marks can at times be complex and confusing, particularly for new entrants seeking to register a trade mark. In 2005 IP Australia launched the Assisted Filing Service to help overcome some of these complexities. Targeted primarily at first-time trade mark filers, the service offered a timely and personalised approach which gave an assessment of the registrability of a proposed trade mark at an early point in the process.

In late 2006 IP Australia undertook an evaluation of the Assisted Filing Service to identify areas for improvement. This work resulted in a number of exciting new enhancements to the service. The most significant of these was to re-name the service TM Headstart. In addition, a new website was developed featuring improved information, designed to be more accessible and usable.

TM Headstart has a key role to play in supporting the trade mark application process. TM Headstart allows users to speak directly to an examiner, to receive an assessment promptly, to identify potential barriers to registration, and where necessary, an opportunity to modify the request before filing a trade mark application. These benefits are of particular value to first time filers who may not be familiar with the trade mark registration process.

For more information, please visit TM Headstart online

IP Enforcement budget increase - Correction to Previous Release

Correction to the release entitled IP Enforcement budget increase

13th June 2007
IP Enforcement budget increase

Australian trade mark and copyright owners will have access to stronger intellectual property (IP) protection as the result of a multi-million dollar funding boost to fight IP crime.

To view the full media release, click here

31 May 2007
Reducing Red Tape for Patent Applications

On 25 May 2007, The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources, Bob Baldwin, announced that consultations have commenced on removing a regulatory burden faced by applicants for Australian patents.

View the media release

31 May 2007
Reminder of Public Holidays

As per the Official Notice dated 5 April 2007, IP Australia's Western Australian State Office will be closed for Foundation Day on Monday 4 June 2007. Also, all of IP Australia with the exception of WA, will be closed for the Queen’s Birthday Holiday on Monday 11 June 2007.

Official Notice Item

24 May 2007
2007 Australian Design Awards - and the winners are...

The winners of the 2007 Australian Design Awards including the Australian Design of the Year were announced on 11May 2007 at the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne.

Melbourne based company, Catalyst Design Group, won the Australian Design Awards of the Year for the Gator, a high powered LED bike headlamp that is visually simple, compact and obnoxiously bright.

Of the 32 finalists, judges awarded one Australian Design Award of the Year, 14 Australian Design Awards for excellence in Design and 17 Australian Design Marks for good design.

IP Australia proudly sponsored this year's awards as part of celebrations to mark the 100th anniversary of the first federally registered Australian design.

To preview the finalists and winners of the 2007 Australian Design Awards visit www.standards.org.au

22 May 2007
Designs achieves ISO 9001:2000 Certification

In May 2007, IP Australia built upon our strong achievements in quality management with the successful ISO 9001:2000 certification of our Designs product line. IP Australia currently has approximately 95% of all customer transactions (by value) covered by ISO 9001:2000 certified processes. This represents a significant achievement by our organisation within a very short time frame.

IP Australia is one of the first intellectual property offices in the world to attain ISO 9001:2000 Quality Certification for its key customer transactions. Implementing an internationally recognised best practice approach to our business is an important part of our customer relations and central to our commitment to becoming an ‘Office of Choice’ in a competitive global IP market. Further, it demonstrates IP Australia’s commitment to best practice quality service delivery to our customers and to encouraging Australian innovation through improving and enhancing the IP system.

For more information regarding ISO 9001:2000 and our quality achievements please refer to our website.

22 May 2007
Public Consultation: Patent, Trade Marks & WIPO Treaties.

The Australian Government is considering joining the Singapore Treaty on the Law of Trademarks (Singapore Treaty) and the Patent Law Treaty (PLT) and formally accepting amendments designed to streamline the administration provisions of several other WIPO treaties.

Public Consultation Notice
Administrative Amendments to WIPO Administered Treaties
Public Consultation Paper: Singapore Treaty on the Law of Trade Marks
Public Consultation Paper: Patent Law Treaty

16 May 2007
Consultation on proposed changes to regulations made under ss.45(3) and 101D of the Patents Act 1990

IP Australia is consulting on amendments to the Patents Regulations 1991. These changes would affect regulations made under subsection 45(3) and 101D of the Patents Act 1990.

As indicated in the consultation paper, submissions are due by COB, Wednesday 13 June 2007

Consultation on proposed changes to the Patents Act

7 May 2007
Inquiry into Extending the Duration of PBR

The Plant Breeder's Rights Advisory Committee (PBRAC) is developing an assessment framework to use when making decisions on whether to extend the duration of PBR protection. The PBRAC has released an Issues Paper that sets out the background and raises questions to which the PBRAC is seeking answers.

The PBRAC invites anyone who has an interest in this matter to make a submission. Submissions at 5pm on Friday 8 June 2007.

Submissions should be sent electronically to: Craig.Allatt@ipaustralia.gov.au or posted to Mr Craig Allatt, PBRAC Secretariat, PO Box 200, WODEN ACT 2606.

ISSUES PAPER - Issues Relating to Duration of PBR Protection

1 May 2007
20 Years of Plant Breeder's Rights in Australia Symposium

This year marks the twentieth anniversary of plant breeder's rights in Australia. In recognition of this milestone, the Australian Centre for Intellectual Property in Agriculture is holding a symposium in Canberra on Friday June 8. The event will provide an opportunity to reflect upon the relative successes and failings of the scheme. Speakers at the symposium will also examine ways in which plant breeder's rights law might develop in the future.

Symposium flyer and registration information

24 April 2007
Australia celebrates innovation on World IP Day

On World Intellectual Property Day, this Thursday, Australian Industry, Tourism and Resources Minister, Ian Macfarlane, will encourage Australians to discover what is behind the inventions and brands which surround us in our day-to-day lives.

View the media release

23 April 2007
Position Papers on Changes to Patent and TM Attorney Regimes

In October 2005 the Government issued its responses to the Review of the Regulatory Regime for Patent and Trade Marks Attorneys and the Review of the Discipline Regime for Patent and Trade Marks Attorneys. The Professional Standards Board for Patent and Trade Marks Attorneys produced these Reviews. The Reviews and the Government responses were produced following wide consultation.

IP Australia has the responsibility for implementing the Government responses. In September 2006 it sought comments on how it proposed to implement the Government’s responses.

Following consideration of the comments received, IP Australia has decided how it will implement the Government responses. To achieve this, changes to the patents and trade marks regulations are needed and IP Australia will advise stakeholders when these changes occur.

How IP Australia will implement the Government responses are set out in the following position papers:

Regulatory Regime Position Paper

Discipline Regime Position Paper

19 April 2007
IP will feature on two television shows in the next week

Sunday 22 April 8:30am, Channel 9, Your Business Success

Each week this program features a small business who needs expert assistance. In this case the business in question needs some IP advice. Trevor Choy (Member of ACIP and IP Lawyer specialising in trade mark law) participated and highlights some key services and resources we offer to SMEs such as the Assisted Filing Service and Smart Start.

This program is part of IP Australia's ongoing commiment to raising the level of awareness and understanding of IP amongst SMEs.

So don't sleep in on Sunday morning, get up and check out the program!!

Wednesday 25 April 8:00pm, ABC, New Inventors

The producers of the New Inventors will incorporate a World IP Day (26 April) message on the episode that will air on 25 April. In addition, an online discussion to take place after the show where viewers can ask IP questions to a panel of experts consisting of an attorney, an IP lawyer and one of the New Inventor judges.

19 April 2007

Declaration of the days when the Designs Office, the Patent Office, the PBR Office and the Trade Marks Office and their sub-offices are taken not to be open for business

On 27 March 2007, legislative changes commenced which result in the Director General being able to declare in writing a day or days on which the Offices of IP Australia or any of their sub-offices is taken not to be open for business. These provisions govern the effect of the Designs Office, the Patent Office, the PBR Office and the Trade Marks Office (‘the Canberra offices’) or any of their sub-offices in the State capitals (‘State offices’) not being open for business.

For more information on the effect of the new close-down provisions, (including the closure dates from 27 March 2007 to January 2008) please see the Official Notices of 23 March 2007 titled “Intellectual Property Legislation Amendment Regulations 2007 (No. 1) and the new close-down provisions in the trade marks legislation” available on IP Australia’s website through the page www.ipaustralia.gov.au/resources/officialnotices.shtml

For precise information on the relevant sections of each Act please see the link below.

http://www.ipaustralia.gov.au/resources/officialnotices_p2007.shtml#11

19 April 2007
Advisory Council on Intellectual Property - Review of post-grant Patent Enforcement Strategies

In recent years there has been increasing concerns regarding the difficulties involved in enforcing patent rights, particularly by individuals and small to medium enterprises (SMEs). Difficulties with patent enforcement could lead to sub-optimal innovation growth which may also affect the Australian economy. In response the Federal Industry Parliamentary Secretary, the Hon Bob Baldwin MP, requested that ACIP inquire into and report on issues relating to post-grant patent enforcement strategies to benefit the Australian economy by assisting patentees to effectively enforce their patent rights. This review will focus on strategies that may assist individuals and (SME’s) enforce their patents in a cost effective way.

Issues Paper released November 2006

Submissions date has been extended to 15 May 2007.

Consultation dates to be advised.

Further details relating to this review can be found on ACIP's website: www.acip.gov.au/reviews.htm

Hard copies of the issues paper are available and may be obtained by contacting the ACIP Secretariat: kostas.arvanitis@ipaustralia.gov.au

10 April 2007
Extension of time to make submissions - Ambush Marketing Legislation Review

On 23 March 2007, an issues paper was released calling for submissions into a review of the "ambush marketing" legislation enacted for the purposes of the Olympic Games movement and the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games.

Submissions were originally due by Friday 13 April 2007. However, some requests have been received for extra time in which to make submissions. In order to ensure that all interested parties receive an equal period of time in which to make submissions to this review, the due date for submissions has been extended by one week, to 5 pm on Friday 20 April 2007.

As per the previous notice , please direct any questions about the Review to Tom Chan at tom.chan@frontier-economics.com.au or (03) 9613 1504.

Submissions should be made electronically to Frontier Economics at: AMLreview@frontier-economics.com.au or posted to: Ambush Marketing Legislation Review, Frontier Economics, GPO Box 218, Melbourne VIC 3001.

10 April 2007
View in 2007: Intellectual Property and new markets in China

Intellectual property (IP) protection remains at the top of the list of 'must know' issues for Australian companies exporting to, manufacturing in or partnering with China. Following last year's successful series on IP in China, Austrade, in partnership with IP Australia, presents the View in 2007 - a seminar series which will provide exporters with updated perspectives from experts direct 'from the coal face' in China.

View in 2007: Intellectual Property and new markets in China will be held during the month of may at various locations around the country and will feature speakers including The Hon. Warren Truss, MP, Minister for Trade; Peter Osborne, Senior Trade Commissioner, Beijing and China; Anna Booy, International Relations Manager, Rouse and Co International and Mark Day, founder of Day Consultants.

At each event, different businesses with in-market experience will also share their knowledge including Han Weining, Executive Director, Core Business, MOX Group Limited, Rhonda Steele, principal coordinator of protection of Mars Incorporated's marketing properties (trade marks, copyrights and designs) and president elect to the International Trademark Association (INTA) and Daniel Moulis, principal of Moulis Legal, is an international trade specialist who has acted for clients in China.

Exporters will also be able to network with speakers and get their questions answered by representatives from Austrade, IP Australia, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Attorney General's Department as well as Australian exporters with current in-market experience.

If you want to know how to make the Chinese IP system work for you - REGISTER NOW! Register by 4 May 2007 to attend a free Austrade seminar nearest to you. Events will be ocurring around the country commencing 7 May. Simply click here to view the dates and locations of each seminar and to register. If you have questions about the event please email ChinaIP@austrade.gov.au or call Austrade Direct on 13 28 78. Places are strictly limited.

View in 2007 - IP and new markets in China.

5 April 2007
Government response to ACIP recommendations regarding jurisdiction of the Federal Magistrates Service

The Hon Ian Macfarlane MP, Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources announced that the Government has agreed to extend the jurisdiction of the Federal Magistrates Court to hear trade mark and design matters, however this extension will not apply to patent matters at this time. This response is to the Advisory Council on Intellectual Property (ACIP) report, Should the jurisdiction of the Federal Magistrates Service be extended to include patent, trade mark and design matters?

To view the full response, click here

5 April 2007
World IP Day 2007 is coming

Thursday 26 April is World IP Day, a day to reflect on the role played by intellectual property in stimulating and safeguarding creativity and innovation. For more information about World IP Day or to find out how you can attend one of the events across Australia, click here.

1 April 2007
PCT Rule changes from 1 April 2007

Amendments to the Regulations under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) (‘the PCT Rules’) are due to come into force on 1 April 2007. The more significant amendments address the situation where a PCT application is filed with missing elements or parts; restoration of priority where an international application is filed up to two months after the end of the 12 month priority period; rectification of obvious mistakes; addition of Korean patent documents to the minimum documentation to be searched; and a change regarding the size of text in the international application. Further information on the details of the amendments and how they will be implemented can be found in the Official Notice

1 April 2007
New Bank for IP Australia from 1 April 2007

The National Australia Bank is now the provider of all IP Australia's banking services. Find out more.

29 March 2007
Confidential Material Served in Trade Mark Oppositions

The Registrar of Trade Marks proposes to clarify the proper treatment of confidential material served on parties to trade mark opposition or their legal representative. The Registrar proposes to direct that access to information served in opposition proceedings and properly identified as confidential shall be restricted to those persons who reasonably need to see it for the purposes of the opposition.

For further information see the official notice.

23 March 2007
Ambush Marketing Legislation Review

IP Australia and the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, is undertaking a review of ambush marketing legislation enacted for the purposes of the Olympic Games movement and the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games.

The Review will be conducted by Frontier Economics and the Intellectual Property Research Institute of Australia. The Review seeks to evaluate the effectiveness and impacts of:

• Chapter 3 of the Olympic Insignia Protection Act 1987; and
• the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games (Indicia and Images) Protection Act 2005.

Public comment is invited by written submission. An Issues Paper setting out the background to the review, the aims and content of the ambush marketing legislation being considered, and the types of questions for which submissions are requested is electronically available.

Submissions close at 5pm on Friday 13 April 2007.

Questions about the Review can be directed to Tom Chan at tom.chan@frontier-economics.com.au or (03) 96131504.

Submissions should be made electronically to: AMLreview@frontier-economics.com.au or posted to: Ambush Marketing Legislation Review, Frontier Economics, GPO Box 218, Melbourne VIC 3001.

View the Media Release

23 March 2007
Intellectual Property Laws Amendment Regulations 2007

On 22 March 2007 the Federal Executive Council made the Intellectual Property Legislation Amendment Regulations 2007 (No. 1);the amendment regulations. The amendment regulations have been registered in the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments and will appear on ComLaw (www.comlaw.gov.au). The amendment regulations are required as a result of the Intellectual Property Laws Amendment Act 2006 and the Trade Marks Amendment Act 2006. They also reflect changes to international arrangements and a wide-ranging review of the trade marks system. Generally, the amendments will have effect from 27 March 2007. Further information on the details of the amendments can be found in the following Official Notices

Patents
Trade Marks
Designs
Plant Breeder's Rights Official Notice
Plant Breeder's Rights Official Notice

23 March 2007
Preview of User Interface for new Patent Search Tool

IP Australia is pleased to provide a preview of the new patent search system being developed to provide better access to Australian patent data for inventors, researchers and IP professionals in Australia and around the world. Even though you can’t search our database with this new system yet – you can get a feel for how the new system will work and what your results will look like. We’re keen to hear your thoughts – so please take a look and send us some feedback.

Full story

15 March 2007
IP Australia to Support KCA Master Class Event

IP Australia is proud to announce its support of the Knowledge Commercialisation Australasia Master Class 2007. The class features David N. Allen, PhD, University of Colorado’s Associate Vice President for Technology Transfer. Attendees will gain insights into five major issues of the commercialisation process within a university context. The class will be held in Sydney at the Crowne Plaza Darling Harbour on Wednesday 21 March 2007. For more information, please view the following document.

KCA Master Class 2007”

13 March 2007
Plant Breeder’s Rights turns 20 today.

IP Australia is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Plant Breeder’s Rights (PBR) scheme today.

PBR has experienced significant growth since the first variety, an Australian macadamia, was registered in the scheme some 20 years ago.

The plant breeding industry has thrived due to the commercial safeguards PBR offers. As a result, Australia is now home to the largest spread of registered varieties in the world.

The media release is available at the IP media centre

9 March 2007
Change of Bank for IP Australia from 1 April 2007

From 1 April 2007, IP Australia will change to a new provider for all our banking services. We are moving our accounts from Westpac to the National Australia Bank

Find out more

2 March 2007
Protocol Amending the Trips Agreement — Consideration Of Acceptance By Australia

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is currently consulting regarding Australia acceding to the Protocol Amending the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS Agreement). This Protocol would allow Member countries with limited or no manufacturing capacity to access patented pharmaceuticals made under compulsory license in another WTO Member.

The consultation paper is accessible from the DFAT website at the following link: http://www.dfat.gov.au/ip/index.html

DFAT has asked for stakeholder views to be provided by Friday 16 March 2007.

21 February 2007
Fee Changes from 1 March 2007

On 13 December 2006, IP Australian announced fee changes that will take effect from 1 March 2007. The fee changes will be applied primarily across patents and trade mark transactions, while some non-cost recovery changes will be applied to designs and plant breeder's rights.

Full Story.

20 February 2007
1000 Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys in Australia

Melbourne-based Simone Calleja from Griffith Hack Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys has become Australia's 1,000th registered patent and trade mark attorney.

The full media release is available at the IP Media Centre

9 February 2007
Proclamation of the Trade Marks Amendment Act 2006

The following Official Notice is about "The Governor-General has fixed the commencement date of Part 2 of Schedule 1 to the Trade Marks Amendment Act 2006 by Proclamation. The commencement date of Part 2 has been fixed to 27 March 2007. Further information can be found in the Official Notice

9 February 2007
Information and Updates on Free Trade Agreements

Australia seeks to have comprehensive FTAs which are consistent with Australia's WTO commitments and objectives and deliver economic benefits in a reasonable time-frame. A comprehensive FTA includes a chapter on IP. IP Australia is involved in all FTA negotiations and welcomes comments especially in regard to the registration process and enforcement of IP rights in countries with which Australia is currently seeking closer trade relationships.

For information on all existing FTAs and FTAs under negotiation or consideration please use the websites http://www.dfat.gov.au/trade/ and/or http://www.fta.gov.au/

Consultations and submissions:

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) calls for public submissions for all Free Trade Agreements under negotiation or consideration. Details are available at http://www.dfat.gov.au/trade/

• Australia-Chile Free Trade Agreement Negotiations
  The Australian Government has agreed in-principle to commence a bilateral negotiation process with Chile. DFAT is now calling for public submissions to assist in identifying particular market access issues and/or any other trade and investment impediments affecting Australia's exports to and investments in Chile by Friday 23 February 2007.
• Australia-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) FTA Analysis
  DFAT would welcome submissions from individuals and groups on issues relevant to the negotiation of an FTA with the GCC by 16 March 2007.
• Australia-Japan Free Trade Agreement Negotiations
  DFAT would welcome submissions from individuals and groups on issues relevant to the negotiation of an FTA with Japan as soon as possible.
• Australia-China Free Trade Agreement Negotiations
  The China FTA Task Force will continue to accept submissions during the negotiations on the specific barriers Australian industry faces in the Chinese market.
• Australia-Malaysia Free Trade Agreement Negotiations
  DFAT is inviting contributions from individuals and groups who did not make a submission to the Australian Scoping Study into an Australia-Malaysia FTA, as well as those who would like to provide additional comment or highlight a particular aspect of their previous submission.

Recent media releases regarding new FTA actions

Japan - http://www.pm.gov.au/news/media_releases/media_Release2297.html

6 February 2007
United States and Australia to Extend Cooperation on Patent Search and Examination Services

On January 24, 2007, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and IP Australia agreed to extend a project under which IP Australia provides search and examination services on international patent applications filed with the USPTO under provisions of the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT).

This agreement is a continuation of the project launched between the two offices in 2005, and is scheduled to begin on March 1, 2007 and run 12 months.

Cooperation on PCT search and examination work is part of the USPTO’s ongoing efforts to improve examination efficiency and quality, while reducing the growing backlog of U.S. national patent applications waiting to be examined. USPTO found that the quality and accuracy of the work done by IP Australia during phase one warrants extending the project and increasing the number of applications it processes.

In this phase of the project, IP Australia will process up to 1,200 PCT applications over the course of one year, covering a range of technologies. The USPTO will continue to review IP Australia’s work to ensure that it meets USPTO standards for quality and accuracy.

“High quality and timely examination of patent applications advances science and technology and creates the certainty innovators need in capital driven markets,” noted Jon Dudas, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO. “A growing backlog is detrimental to U.S. innovation and the economy. This project builds on the long history of cooperation between the USPTO and IP Australia and gives us the ability to open another front in our battle to reduce our growing backlog.”

IP Australia’s Director General, Ian Heath explained why IP Australia was pleased to sign up to a new phase of the project, “Participation in this project is a significant opportunity for IP Australia to move closer to its vision of being an office of choice and for enhancing its international reputation. It represents a further step towards achieving the goal of reducing re-work between offices and making mutual exploitation of work a reality for the ultimate benefit of Australian innovators and the IP system as a whole.”

Each year, the USPTO receives about 50,000 international PCT applications in addition to nearly 450,000 national applications. Cooperation with IP Australia will allow the USPTO to dedicate more resources to examining the over 800,000 national applications currently in the pipeline, with the goal of increasing productivity and enhancing quality.

The PCT is an international agreement that simplifies the filing of patent applications in its 135 member states. A PCT application may be used as a national application for a patent in any of the designated PCT countries. International applicants request PCT search and examination reports to help them determine if an application meets basic patent criteria before committing to the high cost of translating and filing an application in one or more PCT countries. The USPTO and IP Australia are among the national patent offices authorized to conduct PCT searches and examinations.

1 February 2007
Australia Building Stronger IP in the Asia-Pacific

An agreement signed at the Trading Ideas Symposium in Sydney will further boost Australian exports to Thailand and throughout APEC, according to Bob Baldwin, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources. Full story

31 January 2007
The Future of Intellectual Property in the Asia-Pacific Debated

Harmonization of IP laws and processes across borders to reduce red tape, piracy and the counterfeiting in the Asia-Pacific region and the enforcement of IP rights were canvassed yesterday in the concluding Roundtable discussion of Trading Ideas.

Full Story

25 January 2007
Proposed fees for requesting trade mark documents and applying for multi-class series trade marks

Provided below are proposed fees relating to two items contained in the Intellectual Property Laws Amendment Act 2006 and the Trade Marks Amendment Act 2006.

Further information on these two Acts can be found at:
Intellectual Property Laws Amendment Bill 2006
Trade Marks Amendment Bill 2006 - Royal Assent

IP Australia will advise when these fees and the commencement date have been confirmed.

For further information please contact Mr Craig Allatt at: craig.allatt@ipaustralia.gov.au

15 January 2007
Patent data at state libraries

Patent data in Australia is held in a variety of different systems. For example, in South Australia old data (1904-1978) is only available in paper or microfiche formats from the State Library. To find out where the library is located, visit: www.slsa.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm. Unfortunately paper and microfiche records are no longer kept at IP Australia's SA/NT State Office.

IP Australia has initiated a program to provide better access to patent data for inventors, researchers and IP professionals in Australia and around the world.

The Patent Search Strategy Project will deliver a new and improved search facility that will ultimately provide electronic access to all Australian patent data.

To find out more about the project, please click here

11 January 2007
Attorney-General Philip Ruddock to open Trading Ideas

Canberra, Australia, January 10, 2007 -- Australia’s Attorney-General, Philip Ruddock, will officially open the first public-private sector event of the APEC 2007 calendar, the Trading Ideas Symposium.

One of the most significant meetings of Intellectual Property (IP) professionals, government policy makers and industry leaders to ever take place in the Asia-Pacific, the Trading Ideas Symposium will be held in Sydney on January 28-30.

The media release is available at the IP Media Centre.

10 January 2007
Designs Hit 100 — Still Going Strong

Today IP Australia celebrates the 100th anniversary of the first federally registered design.

From a unique swim costume that mimics shark skin to a cricket helmet combining visual style, safety and comfort, Australian design has come a long way in the last 100 years.

Prominent Australian designs include the:

• Primal Prawnstar – fishing lures which mimic nature with flicking tails and life-like swimming movements;
• Albion Cricket Helmet – a fixture with the Australian cricket team;
• Speedo Fastskin suit, a high performance fabric, a streamlined full-body design that took the world by storm at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

The media release is available at the IP Media Centre.

3 January 2007
Revised Electronic Business Rules now available

IP Australia has revised and updated our Business Rules for Electronic Communication to assist you to communicate with us electronically. We are guided by the Electronic Transactions Act 1999 which enables business and the community to use electronic communication options when dealing with Australian Government agencies.

The revised Electronic Business Rules document covers:

• using IP Australia's online search facilities
• applying for IP rights online
• making electronic payments to IP Australia
• corresponding electronically with IP Australia

Read the Business Rules for Electronic Communication with IP Australia

2 January 2007
IP Australia launched our 2007 edition of the Customer Service Charter on 2 January 2007

As part of the revision of our Charter, we consulted with our key customer groups to ensure we considered your concerns and incorporated your ideas. We also considered the feedback from our 2006 Customer Satisfaction Benchmark Survey to ensure our revised Charter meets our customers’ expectations.

There are several changes from the 2006 version, with the key ones being:

• a new quality service level commitment for Designs - "95% of Designs examination reports will be free of substantive errors."
• increased target for the Trade Marks quality service level commitment (" 98% of Trade Marks examination reports will be free of substantive errors.")

Please contact our Customer Service Network for your copy of our revised Charter, or go to www.ipaustralia.gov/service

Archived News - 2007
Archived News - 2006
Archived News - 2005
Archived News - 2004
Archived News - 2003
Archived News - 2002
Archived News - 2001

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