News

10th Dec 2018

Reimagining best patent practice in New Zealand (again)

The notion of what constitutes “best practice” when it comes to prosecuting New Zealand patent applications over the past 4-5 years has changed almost as often as Australia has...

The notion of what constitutes “best practice” when it comes to prosecuting New Zealand patent applications over the past...

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5th Dec 2018

Save the innovation patent: Business owners have their say!

Recently we reported on the Government’s plans to abolish Australia’s second tier patent system, the innovation patent. The decision to abolish the innovation patent system appears to have been made...

Recently we reported on the Government’s plans to abolish Australia’s second tier patent system, the innovation patent. The decision to...

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25th Nov 2018

The fate of Australia’s innovation patent – it’s like the death penalty for jaywalking

This article was recently re-published in Practical Law Australia, by Thomson Reuters Legal. A copy of the re-published article can be found here. Australia’s second-tier innovation patent system is presently...

This article was recently re-published in Practical Law Australia, by Thomson Reuters Legal. A copy of the re-published article...

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21st Oct 2018

The “patent bargain” for clean technologies – altering the deal

This article was published originally in the LexisNexis Australian Intellectual Property Law Bulletin, Volume 31, Number 6, pp.111-114 (2018), and is republished here with permission. This article was has...

This article was published originally in the LexisNexis Australian Intellectual Property Law Bulletin, Volume 31, Number 6, pp.111-114 (2018),...

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9th Aug 2018

New Zealand’s second-tier “Advancement” patent fails to make it to first base

In recent weeks, we’ve been following progress on New Zealand’s proposed second-tier “Advancement” patent with interest. As we moved from first, to second and then third updates, optimism that...

In recent weeks, we’ve been following progress on New Zealand’s proposed second-tier “Advancement” patent with interest. As we moved...

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1st Aug 2018

A week is a long time in patent law – Australia and New Zealand both move on second-tier patent systems

As reverse manifestations go, this one was pretty good. Within a week of our previous article, which effectively said progress toward New Zealand’s proposed second-tier Advancement patent had stalled,...

As reverse manifestations go, this one was pretty good. Within a week of our previous article, which effectively said...

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18th Jul 2018

New Zealand’s proposed second-tier “Advancement” patent yet to advance

As seasoned patent scribes, who have between us covered almost everything of significance coming out of New Zealand over the past 15 years, the manner in which a recent...

As seasoned patent scribes, who have between us covered almost everything of significance coming out of New Zealand over...

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17th May 2018

ARENA funding for Australian Cleantech start-ups: How patents can assist

Australian start-ups are often cash-poor – and IP costs money. We get that. To that end, Spruson & Ferguson’s “Cleantech” team is constantly on the lookout for ways in...

Australian start-ups are often cash-poor – and IP costs money. We get that. To that end, Spruson & Ferguson’s...

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3rd May 2018

Government review of Defence Trade Controls Act 2012 highlights relevance to local inventors

The Australian Government has announced an independent review of the Defence Trade Controls Act 2012. Local inventors (and indeed, patent attorneys) may think “so what? Unless I’m looking to...

The Australian Government has announced an independent review of the Defence Trade Controls Act 2012. Local inventors (and indeed,...

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18th Apr 2018

Is IP Australia intent on restricting patentable subject matter in Australia?

Between August and November 2017, IP Australia sought public comment on several Government-supported IP policies, including: - the introduction of an objects clause into the Patents Act; and - amending the...

Between August and November 2017, IP Australia sought public comment on several Government-supported IP policies, including: - the introduction of...

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11th Apr 2018

New Zealand patent applications – time for a re-think?

New Zealand, with its remote geographical location and relatively small population, can sometimes be overlooked by patentees. However, there are compelling drivers for considering, and indeed pursuing patent protection...

New Zealand, with its remote geographical location and relatively small population, can sometimes be overlooked by patentees. However, there...

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10th Apr 2018

Innovation: A tale of two jurisdictions

In the past, New Zealand has trumped Australia in relation to a range of important policy issues including: votes for women; native title rights for indigenous people; environmental laws...

In the past, New Zealand has trumped Australia in relation to a range of important policy issues including: votes...

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