There appears to be a softening by the Patent Office in relation to the extension of patent term provisions in Australia. Traditionally, an extension of patent term was only available for pharmaceuticals. Indeed, the Act contained a specific limitation to "pharmaceutical substances per se".

The copyright owner should uncover details for those who downloaded pirate versions of the movie Dallas Buyers Club.

Australian courts have recently considered the registrability of single-colour trade marks.

The Full Federal Court has rebuffed an attempt to appropriate the international reputation of the Monster Energy brand drink in Australia in Hansen Beverage Company v Bickfords (Australia) Pty Ltd.

The recent case of Health World Ltd v Shin-Sun Australia Pty Ltd [2010] HCA 13 has expanded who can remove Trade Marks under the Australian system. Under our Trade Marks statute only a ‘person aggrieved’ can apply to remove a Trade Mark. Traditionally, this has been an onerous test which did not necessarily include trade rivals wishing to use a mark.

The Australian courts and the Australian Patent Office continue to have divergent views on the level of obviousness required to invalidate a patent. Whilst the Patent Office has attempted to move Australia towards the European so-called "problem and solution" approach, the courts highlight deficiencies in it and refuse to adopt the Office's preferred view.

Omnibus claims are added to patents in some jurisdictions as a catch all warning to potential infringers of patent law.

This patent infringement decision from colonial Australia shows just how much has – and just how much has not – changed.

The courts again rejected the notion that what the applicant says in prosecution can be held against the patentee later.

One of the biggest changes in Australian Patent and Trademark law, created and shepherded by the Australian Patent Office has now taken effect in Australia.

The controversial Senate Inquiry into the patentability of genes and other biological material appears to have been subdued, at least for now, as a result of the recent Australian federal election.

In an interesting development for those seeking patent protection in both Australia and the US, the Australian Patent Office and the USPTO have announced that, as of 14 April 2008, a Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) will be introduced on a one-year trial basis.

You should check if your US applications need to be advanced to reduce the risk of any official slowdown or shutdown.

The patentability standards applicable to all Australian patent applications will soon be raised.

The Australian courts have continued to restrict the ability of applicants to obtain shape trade marks. In the latest case of Chocolaterie Guylian N.V. v Registrar of Trade Marks [2009] FCA 891, the Federal Court has agreed with the Registrar's refusal to register Guylian’s well-used shape of a seahorse despite substantial use and high levels of consumer recognition.

IP Australia is providing free extensions of time of up to three months if a deadline cannot be met due to the effects of COVID.

Many deadlines for patents, trade marks and designs are covered by the recent streamlined extensions of time.

There are only 15 business days remaining until the Export Market Development Grant (EMDG) program closes.

Nauru's Trademarks Act has established the legal framework for the registration and protection of trade marks in Nauru.

In Indonesia, third-parties may file a request for post-grant opposition before a Patent Appeal Commission.