In light of the complex nature of intellectual property, the Australian government has launched an initiative aimed at improving the relationships between companies and innovators.
The Australian IP Toolkit for Collaboration released on September 10 is designed to make collaboration between businesses and researchers easier. Its goal is to guide businesses through the complex nature of Australia's intellectual property law, via three avenues.
The Australian government's Department of Industry and Science formulated the toolkit alongside Intellectual Property Australia. It is intended as a starting point in order to guide Australians through the legal jargon.
The three components of the toolkit are guides, tools, and model contracts. The framework created by these features is aimed at simplifying the complicated aspects of intellectual property in order to strengthen working relationships between companies and innovators.
This includes avoiding unnecessary delays and reducing costs to all parties in order to translate more research into commercial outcomes.
However, the framework is not designed to be used in lieu of a professional who is well versed in Australia's intellectual property law. It states that it is only intended for a guide to understand the legal implications further and not as a replacement for legal advice.
"When collaborating, there is no one-size-fits-all solution to IP and each collaborative project is different," the guide states, re-iterating the importance of seeking legal advice.
The toolkit reflects the significance of protecting innovation and facilitating its transference into goods and services.
"By providing guidance on how to develop partnerships and manage intellectual property, the government is equipping researchers and businesses with the practical tools that they need to collaborate," says Mrs. Andrews.
While the framework provides an useful outline on intellectual property law, you can contact the team at Alder IP to help clarify any further questions you may still have.