Twenty years ago, if you asked an advertising guru who they believed most hindered the creative process of developing an advertising campaign (of any sort), nine times out of ten the answer would have been the lawyers. It was not uncommon to hear descriptions such as destructive, unreasonable, uncommercial (or even worse) being used to describe the contributions by the …
Copying replacement parts
Is it legal and what can be done to stop it? It’s a common question: ‘can we make our own replacement parts or do we need to buy the parts from the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM)?’ The equipment might be a crusher or other heavy duty machinery with wear parts. The amounts of money involved can be significant, with a …
Going green – the benefits of green technology patents
One of the biggest challenges of the 21st century is how to combat climate change and its global impact. Innovation in ‘green technologies’ is central to finding the solutions. Patent offices around the world have recognised the importance of the relationship between the development of green technologies and patents. Because of this, a number of ‘fast tracking’ programs have been …
The CRISPR battle
CRISPR–Cas9 Technology The CRISPR–Cas9 system is one of the most exciting developments in molecular biology in the last ten years, massively increasing scientists’ ability to tinker with cells. It is a scalpel technology for gene manipulation, precise and able to be specifically controlled without off target effects. It is also cheap, quick and easy to use, and as a result …
Wrays becomes an Australian Made Campaign Partner
National specialist IP firm Wrays has partnered with the Australian Made Campaign to provide legal support to the campaign and help local producers protect their brands. The Australian Made Campaign is the not-for-profit organisation that administers and promotes the Australian Made, Australian Grown certification trade mark. Thousands of Australian businesses are registered to use the symbol on products sold in …
Iconic Bondi Beach at the centre of an international trade mark dispute
Wrays’ Principal and Chair of the trademarks committee for Australia’s Institute of Patent and Trademark Attorneys, Jennifer McEwan shared her insights with ABC journalist, Jano Gibson into what constitutes an iconic trade mark in different countries. Bondi Beach is at the centre of an international trade mark dispute between Sydney cosmetics company, Bondi Wash and multinational fashion giant, Abercrombie & …
Forcing Chinese copycats to take a leap
Anyone with even a remote interest in intellectual property will have observed that, on the same day President Trump whispered into Chinese President Xi Jinping’s ear while eating ‘the most beautiful piece of chocolate cake you’ve ever seen’ to inform him of a missile strike on Syria, the Chinese Government announced that his daughter Ivanka Trump’s trade marks had been …
Protect your intangible assets
Nobody can afford to leave their most valuable belongings lying around unguarded. That’s why companies need to be vigorous about managing and protecting their intellectual property. Indeed, often a company’s most valuable asset is its intellectual property (IP) – that unique invention, idea, design, application or process that gives it a key advantage. A robust IP portfolio creates commercial opportunities, …
Amazon AU deconstructed
The drums are beating in the sunburnt country We are told we have one of the best retail industries in the world – competitive, aggressive and constantly delivering good value to the Australian consumer. Although the April 2017 Westpac Consumer Confidence Survey suggests a dip in confidence among Australian consumers. Amazon is benefiting from the creation of FUD (fear, uncertainty, …
ACCC is now targeting unfair contract terms in small business contracts
The ACCC has announced that the new provisions extending the unfair contract protections of the Australian Consumer Law (ACL) to small businesses will be a priority in 2017. The law to extend the unfair contract protections of the Australian Consumer Law (ACL) for consumer contracts to standard form small business contracts came into effect on 12 November 2016. All standard …