Innovation patents live to protect IP another day
06 April 2018
Innovation patents aren't going to leave us just yet! In a surprising move by IP Australia, the Intellectual Property Laws Amendment Bill 2018 was introduced to Parliament without the section on scrapping the innovation patents system. This is hopeful news for smaller businesses looking to protect their IP.
What happens when AI creates IP?
05 April 2018
Artificial Intelligence is becoming a greater part of our lives. So far, it's uses have been fairly pedestrian - things like artificial assistants or factory workers. But what happens when AI begins to create? Who - or perhaps what - will own the copyright to their works?
Four of the world’s most famous trade secrets
03 April 2018
Instead of seeking a patent, companies sometimes decide to keep their inventions a trade secret. That way, they don't have to publicly disclose any information about it, keeping their competitors in the dark. Here are four of the world's best known and famous trade secrets.
Harry Potter: The boy who lived or clothing brand?
29 March 2018
What happens if you try to register a trademark and find that a huge international entertainment company is also now using the name, and wants to stop you? It sounds far-fetched, but that's exactly what happened to an Australian clothing company labelling some of their clothes with the name 'harry potter'.
Which of you is “Sydney Zoo”?
19 March 2018
What do you think of when you hear the name "Sydney Zoo"? Chances are, Taronga Zoo in central Sydney comes to mind. Not for long, however. A new zoo in western Sydney is opening with the name "Sydney Zoo", and Taronga is launching a legal battle to stop them from doing so. What's the story?
“Jesus loves nachos” finally trademarked
14 March 2018
The world of intellectual property is full of funny and slightly bizarre registrations. One of the strangest in recent times is the trademarking of the phrase "Jesus loves nachos". What's the story behind this strange statement of the son of God's taste for Mexican cuisine?
Alder IP wins internationally prestigious award
01 March 2018
We're incredibly proud to announce that Alder IP has won Corporate INTL's '‘Full Service IP Law Firm of the Year in Australia’. This is an internationally recognised award, and we're glad to see our exceptional service and expertise acknowledged by an independent observer.
“Honey, I shrunk the overseas market for their product”
01 March 2018
A great debate between Australians and New Zealanders has erupted, but it's not over rugby or cricket - this time, it's about who has the right to trademark 'manuka honey'. A successful lodging in the UK by a New Zealand group has prompted the Australian industry to mount a legal response.
Will the loss of innovation patents make IP protection more difficult?
22 February 2018
The Government has decided to abolish the innovation patents system. This may have the effect of making it harder for SMEs to protect their intellectual property that's not quite worthy of a regular patent but nonetheless valuable. What are other options for SMEs to protect their IP?
To patent or not to patent?
19 February 2018
The decision of whether or not to patent an invention can be a difficult one for SMEs. If you don't have the resources to protect your IP, it mightn't seem worth it. But keeping IP a secret can be a risky strategy. Here are three reasons why you should seek a patent for your invention.