Changes affecting all IP rights commencing February 2019

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.