IP legislation improvements come into effect on 24 February 2019, which will:
- streamline application processes and payment of fees
- clarify formality requirements for patent specifications
- reduce the grace period before a trade mark can be challenged for non-use from five years to three years
- improve Plant Breeder’s Rights enforcement measures and introduce changes in essentially derived variety declarations.
These changes are part of the Intellectual Property Laws Amendment (Productivity Commission Response Part 1 and Other Measures) Act 2018.
Details of non-legislative instruments related to these changes, which will also commence on 24 February 2019, are available on the IP legislation page.