Due to the threat of COVID-19, many Patent Offices around the world have implemented the suspension of, or extensions in the time limits, to complete certain actions. Although some deadlines to complete an action have been extended, in general, the payment deadlines of annuity/renewal fees remain unchanged. We have provided the following information on a selection of Patent Offices in …
What You Need to Know About the Modern Slavery Statement
It has been a year since the Modern Slavery Act 2018 (Act) has come into force and the first mandatory modern slavery statements (Statement) are due by as soon as the end of June this year, depending on the applicable accounting period of the reporting entity. Accordingly, this is an opportune time for all companies based or operating in Australia …
OneMusic Brings One-Stop Music Licensing to Australia (Except for Cheese-Makers?)
Earlier this year, APRA, AMCOS and PPCA launched a joint initiative in Australia aimed at making music licensing easier and simpler to access for Australian businesses. The initiative is called OneMusic, and it brings together in one bundle licences of all of the copyright works in each of the PPCA, APRA and AMCOS catalogues. Think musical works, sound recordings, music …
LES: Is It for You?
Don’t be fooled by the name and believe that if you are not involved with the ‘licensing’ of intellectual property that the Licensing Executives Society (LES) is not relevant for you or your business. Anyone seeking to extract value from or trying to leverage their IP assets for the benefit of their business will find value in what LES has …
The IP Perspective with Chris Juhasz
Ever since it premiered, The Matrix film has been prompting movie-goers to question whether humanity is indeed, unknowingly trapped inside a simulated, virtual reality (to distract us from, for example, our bodies being used as batteries). Of course, such a question has been on at least some minds for centuries. In this regard, fellow students of philosophy, and particularly those …
Changes to the Singaporean Examination Pathway
On 1 January 2020, the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) will be closing the Supplementary Examination Pathway. The changes will affect patent applications filed on or after the closure date including: National patent applications filed on or after 1 January 2020 PCT applications entering the national phase in Singapore with an international filing date on or after 1 January …
Cannabis Trade Marks No Longer up in Smoke
In 2017, the global medical cannabis market was estimated to be worth more than US $11 billion and is expected to grow to approximately US $37 billion by 2023. The Australian industry has begun to bloom with more than 20 medical cannabis-related companies listed on the ASX in 2018. Market intelligence firm Pitcher Partners valued the Australian medical cannabis market …
Changes to ACL in Relation to Supply of Gift Cards
New Commonwealth laws regarding gift cards came into effect on 1 November 2019 by way of amendments to the Australian Consumer Law (ACL). The relevant provisions provide that: gift cards must have a minimum three year expiry period; information about the expiry of the gift card must be displayed prominently on the card itself; and terms cannot allow certain post-supply …
Greater Choice and Control for Consumer Data
Following the recent introduction of the Consumer Data Right regime (CDR Regime) into the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (CCA), the Office of Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) published draft Privacy Safeguard Guidelines in October 2019. The draft guidelines set out the OAIC’s understanding and interpretation of the privacy safeguards and the relevant Consumer Data Rules. Background The CDR Regime is …
First in Best Dressed?
What happens when two people apply for exactly the same trade mark in relation to the same goods and services only one day apart? Three sets of opposition proceedings and more than 2 years later the answer is clear (it always was): the first person to use the mark in Australia is the “true owner” and it’s that person who …