Last updated: 
21 October 2021

In keeping with the Electronic Transaction Act 1999, we provide you the option of using electronic communications when engaging with us. You are encouraged to submit service requests and make payments using our online services.

Payment of fees and charges

Most online services requests require payment at the time of filing using a Visa, MasterCard or American Express (AMEX). We have appropriate security and handling mechanisms in place to protect your credit card details.

A payments options form must be included when using the Emergency Fax Service. Please note that this form is not required when using online services (a payment service is available using the 'My Payments' option). 

Declined credit cards do not constitute payment. If during processing of your application the fee items used in the calculation are found to be incorrect, the fee payable is recalculated using the correct fee items. This may result in a letter of notification being sent (underpayments) or refund processed (overpayments).

For submissions using our online services

The date and time of receipt of a service request submitted using online services is the date and time in Canberra (Australian Eastern Standard/Daylight Savings Time) when the entirety of the service request (and any attachments) has entered IP Australia's information system. Users should note that this may be different from the date and time in their location.

Any attachment to an electronic service request is not considered received by IP Australia until the entirety of the service request (and any attachment) has entered IP Australia's information system. 

The date and time of receipt of the attachment is the date and time of receipt of the service request (determined as above).

General requirements

Please ensure your files are less than 40MB.  

The following file types can be uploaded to our online services: 

  • Images (.jpg, .jpeg, .png, .tif, .tiff) 

  • Documents (.doc, .docx, .pdf, .xml) 

  • Sounds (.mp3, .wav) 

  • Animations (.mpeg, .mpg, .mp4, .wmv) 

There are different upload requirements for different requests. Please refer to the on-page guidance when you’re completing requests. 

For a comprehensive list of the file requirements, please log into our online services. 

Lodgement on weekends or public holidays

If you have payment or correspondence due on a weekend or public holiday, you have until the next business day to file. We publish approved public holidays each year in our official notices.

Digital Rights Management

We do not accept file attachments which make use of Digital Rights Management (DRM) file policy settings. Policy settings are used in some file formats to (among other things) limit copying, printing or the duration of readability of the file. If detected, files containing policy settings may be rejected by IP Australia and you may be asked to re-submit a policy-free version of the file.

Electronic service requests – available methods

Trade marks

This table shows the ways that we can receive requests for trade marks.

Trade marks Online services B2B Emergency Fax Email
TM Headstart request / Add class(es) fee / Part 2 fee / new representation fee yes no no no
TM Headstart amendments yes no no no
TM Headstart general correspondence yes  no no yes
All standard national trade mark applications yes yes yes no
All international  trade mark applications yes no no no
All other trade mark service requests (except requests related to international trade mark applications) yes yes yes no
All service requests related to international trade mark applications  Lodged directly with WIPO

Patents

This table shows the ways that we can receive requests for patents.

Patents Online services B2B Emergency Fax Email ePCT
All national patent applications yes yes yes no no
All patent service requests yes yes yes no no
All international patent applications yes yes yes no yes

Plant breeder's rights

This table shows the ways that we can receive requests for plant breeder’s rights.

Plant Breeder's Rights Online services B2B Emergency Fax Email
All Plant Breeder's Rights applications and service requests yes yes yes no
Qualified Persons Annual Renewal yes yes yes no

Designs

This table lists the ways that we can receive requests for Designs.

Designs Online services B2B Emergency Fax Email
All design applications and service requests yes yes yes no

Freedom of information (FOI)

FOI Online Services B2B Emergency Fax Email
FOI Request yes yes yes yes

General

General Online Services B2B Emergency Fax Email
General enquiries yes yes yes  
Making a complaint or suggestion yes yes yes  

 

Sending electronic physical media

We accept physical media (CD-ROM, CD-R, DVD or DVD-R) for certain transactions. Physical media identified for an online service request must be accompanied by the physical media coversheet that can be printed from within the online service official receipt after submission. Each physical medium must be enclosed in a hard case and accompanied by a transmittal letter on paper. The transmittal letter must list:

  • the machine format (e.g. IBM-PC, Macintosh)

  • the operating system compatibility (e.g. MS-DOS, MS-Windows)

  • a list of the files contained on the physical medium including their names, sizes in bytes and dates of creation.

    Please note USB devices are not an approved form for filing physical media.

    Physical media submitted to IP Australia will not be returned to you. Your physical media must be physically labelled with the following information:

  • the name of the sender;

  • the name of the invention (patents only);

  • any relevant reference number;

  • creation date of the physical media;

  • the order of media if the document extends over multiple media; and

  • an indication of copy of submission if more than one copy is filed (eg. Copy 1 or Copy 2).

    Any amendment to the information must be sent on a replacement physical medium containing the original text and incorporating the amended information.

Filing evidence in oppositions

Filing evidence for trade marks and patents oppositions proceedings needs to be done electronically via a computer application called Objective Connect. Guides for how to use this application are listed below: