Category Archive

Brand Protecting for Longevity With a history spanning over 100 years (only a few years short of our own firm, Wrays, which turns 105 this year) this little jar of goodness has been a staple in Australian households and is not only rich in B Vitamins – but also rich in IP history.  In this article, we explore how Vegemite …

Overcoming Challenges and Leveraging Smart Farming Innovation With an objective of reaching A$100bn agritech output by 2030, Australia’s agricultural productivity can be expected to increase significantly. But how is this to be achieved efficiently? A closer look at the growing role of ‘smart farming’ and the associated technological, intellectual property, and regulatory challenges provides insight into the path forward. Defining …

Is the inventive step threshold for antibodies in Australia designed to stifle innovation? Introduction Antibodies have become significant therapeutic treatments for a broad range of diseases including cancer, inflammatory conditions and infectious diseases. This antibody success story, which includes blockbuster drugs such as Humira (AbbVie) Keytruda (Merck) Opdivo (BMS/Ono Pharmaceutical, Infliximab (JnJ/Janssen) and Dupixent (Sanofi) has turbo-charged the development of …

The Importance of Due Diligence in Brand Searches A string of recent decisions from the Australian Federal Court has emphasised the importance of undertaking due diligence trade mark searching before launching a new brand. Not taking the necessary steps to determine availability of the mark may compromise not only a trader’s ability to rely on honest concurrent use provisions in …

Australia’s Emergence in the Semiconductor Sector Semiconductors are the backbone of modern technology, and Australia is stepping into the spotlight in this critical field with its high-quality research and niche capabilities in telecommunications, healthcare, and quantum technologies. In our latest article, semiconductor expert Phil Burns explores Australia’s thriving semiconductor sector and analyses the patent trends in high-impact areas. Drawing on …

What you need to know to safeguard your most valuable asset We know that it is important that a business keep good business records for at least 5 years in Australia, if not longer, to ensure that it can make good decisions for the business and its employees, show its financial position, and meet its obligations relating to taxation and …

Wrays Principal and experienced patent attorney, Dr Penelope Farbey, recently featured on Jeremy Chetty’s podcast, The Young Entrepreneurs Show, where she shared personal insights into her field and the world of intellectual property. In this episode, Penelope deep dives into: 🎙️Why she chose to become a patent attorney and what makes her job so fulfilling – helping creators protect their …

IP Australia (Australia’s Patent, Trade Marks and Designs Office), recently announced proposed fee changes with an expected implementation date of 1 October 2024. The proposed fee changes are sweeping and will affect many stages in the registration and renewal of patents, trade marks, designs and plant breeder’s rights. A summary of the proposed changes can be found at the link …

Early this week IP Australia (Australia’s Patent, Trade Marks and Designs Office), announced fee changes with an implementation date of 1 October 2024. Included in the increase in fees is a change in the procedure and calculation of the excess claims fee.  The changes will have a significant impact on the timing of the calculation of the excess claims fees, …

The Ethics of Using it in Legal Practice New artificial intelligence (AI) tools are continually being rolled out for lawyers and attorneys with promises to revolutionise the way that practitioners undertake legal research, discovery, due diligence, and legal drafting, and offer exciting opportunities for practitioners. But what do practitioners’ ethical obligations say about the use of AI in legal practice? …