New product innovations forged by small business owners are being replicated by corporations every day in Australia. This week Wrays’ Chairman, Gary Cox, sat down with Nina Hendy from The Age to share his insights into the IP protections to put in place to minimise risk. “Business owners must never cut corners when it comes to legal protections or shy …
Creating effective strategies that deliver agility at Chief Strategy Officer Summit
Wrays were pleased to sponsor this year’s Chief Strategy Officer Summit on Tuesday 6 and Wednesday 7 September at the Sheraton on the Park in Sydney. The Summit explored the latest strategic trends, challenges and process within the corporate nexus. The summit’s program allowed executives to hear how leading organisations evolve, ensuring objectives are consistently achieved in this ever changing …
Strategic thinking needed in patent enforcement
The recent case of CQMS Pty Ltd v Bradken Resources Pty Limited [2016] FCA 847 has highlighted the importance of carefully considering how to assert the rights provided by an Australian patent. Unjustified Threats The Australian Patents Act 1990 contains provisions intended to prevent patent holders, or those applying for patents, from making unjustified threats of patent infringement against others. …
Corporate innovators use data science to grow
By Jonathon Wolfe, Director – Wrays Solutions Australia is well placed to capitalise on digital disruption. Efficient and proven data science methods combined with strong strategic rationale will allow Australian companies to proactively build new and innovative services – leveraging our national competitive advantages and people. The wave of digital disruption facing service based economies like ours is a significant …
A challenging time ahead for resources in Australia – neXTek wrap up!
Last week Wrays was pleased to take part in neXTek, a one day forum including exhibitions, talks, workshops, short courses and networking aimed at providing an insight into the best technology available, current innovations, and what’s on the horizon in the resources industry. Wrays’ Principals Peter Caporn and Albert Ferraloro, in partnership with the Resources Innovation Group (RIG), presented a …
The power of design registrations
By Tim Francis, Principal & Andrew Mullane, Senior Associate Registered designs are sometimes overlooked in favour of their patent and trade mark cousins. However, the Federal Court’s latest decision on designs, which was handed down on 8 July 2016 in Hunter Pacific International Pty Ltd v Martec Pty Ltd [2016] FCA 796, not only reminds us of the important role …
Productivity Commission’s draft report on IP – possible impact on the pharmaceutical industry
By Penny Farbey, Senior Associate The Productivity Commission has released its draft report into Intellectual Property Arrangements. Several recommendations in the report could, if accepted and implemented, have a profound impact on the pharmaceutical industry. The recommendations could cause: The inventive step bar to the grant of patents to be raised further. Uncertainty as to the patentability of certain inventions. …
Privacy: serious data breach notification laws on their way
By Laura Tatchell, Associate After years of lobbying, law reform recommendations and government promises the Australian government has released a draft bill entitled Privacy Amendment (Notification of Serious Data Breaches) Bill 2015. The controversial bill imposes mandatory serious data breach notification obligations on entities governed by the Privacy Act includes businesses with a turnover of more than $3 million, government …
Brexit – an IP perspective, where to now?
By Andrew Mullane, Associate Intellectual property rights have not escaped the waves of uncertainty created by the United Kingdom’s decision to leave the European Union, or “Brexit” as we’ve heard it referred to over the last few months. The UK’s obligations to the World Trade Organisation, and the widely accepted view that harmonisation of IP laws is advantageous, should prevent …
Orica’s blasting method patentable despite Dyno Nobel’s determined opposition
By Peter Caporn, Principal A recent decision of the Commissioner of Patents has held that a blasting method used in open cut mining (most commonly for coal) that combines a throw blast and a stand-up blast, separated by a period of at least 500ms, in a single blast cycle, is novel and inventive. Australian Patent Application 2004293486 in the name …