Case studies
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Building a franchise through branding
The Coffee Club started as one store in Brisbane and quickly became a national franchise with over 100 outlets. This success has been driven by the IP focus of its founders, Emmanuel Kokoris and Emmanuel Drivas, who understand the strength of branding in attracting customers and franchisees.
Business area:
Trade Marks
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Buying the company but not the IP rights
Volkswagen (VW) paid $1 billion-plus to buy the Rolls-Royce Motor Company (RRMC) in 1998. However, it turned out that the rights to the Rolls-Royce brand name were not included in the sale.
Business area:
Trade Marks
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Clarification of 'sale' through a Federal Court case
On 16 July 1991 Sun World Inc. made an application for the grant of plant variety rights under the now-repealed Plant Variety Rights Act 1987 (PVR Act). The application related to a grapevine variety generally known as 'Sugraone'.
Business area:
Plant Breeder's Rights
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An Australian clothing designer discovered she had no legal recourse against a retailer who was copying her designs, as she hadn't registered the designs before releasing them. Design registration doesn't prevent copying but it means you can take the copier to court.
Business area:
Designs
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Generating IP on behalf of clients
Lu Papi's New South Wales based research and development company generates IP for clients by developing their ideas from concept to manufacturing. It focuses on IP protection through patenting.
Business area:
Patents
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Store owner and designer of what is arguably the best superlite bike in the world today uses IP to protect his business and give investors confidence in his brand.
Business area:
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Lenard Poulter has successfully franchised his ideas and his trade marks along with his chicken shops. He now essentially sells IP for a living.
Business area:
Patents
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Having been in business in Japan for decades, Terrie Lloyd has had plenty of experience with the Japanese IP system. He now runs several businesses that provide information or services to foreign software, biotech and media companies accessing or looking to access the Japanese market. Two of his key businesses are Japan Inc, a technology innovation magazine, and LINC Media, a business incubation company.
Business area:
Patents
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IP protection for a beach chair
When Katherine Drayton realised that her innovative beach chair could be marketable, she researched her IP rights and took out protection in the form of an innovation patent, a design registration and a trade marked logo.
Business area:
Patents
Trade Marks
Designs
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IP protection for a fridge magnet
The inventor of a special fridge magnet made sure his IP was appropriately protected before he began commercialising it. As the product was an easy one to copy, he accepted that his ability to protect the IP would be limited, and factored this into his business strategy.
Business area:
Patents
