The Defence Trade Controls Amendment Act 2015 – A little-known document with significant reach

The Defence Trade Controls Amendment Act 2015 entered into Australian federal law on 16 May 2015. In regulating the extent to which one is able to communicate new technologies overseas – and in providing criminal sanctions for non-compliance, the new legislation stands to impact significantly upon the day-to-day activities of Australian patent attorneys – and their clients.

Shelston IP has worked closely with the Defence Export Controls Office (DECO) throughout the public consultation process. Although the (criminal) sanctions for non-compliance do not take effect until 2 April 2016, our internal systems are already largely compliant with the restrictions imposed. In short, when dealing with Shelston IP, clients can rest assured that we fully understand the situation and will have taken the necessary steps to minimise any risks to the parties involved.