News

11th Feb 2022

Testing times for Taiho’s Swiss-style claims

Most practitioners would agree that Swiss-style claims are not their favourite claim format. Swiss-style claims can be difficult to formulate or construe, particularly if the medical use in question...

Most practitioners would agree that Swiss-style claims are not their favourite claim format. Swiss-style claims can be difficult to...

Read More

7th Dec 2021

Reimagining New Zealand Patent “Best Practice”

This article originally appeared in the September/October 2021 edition of the Patent Lawyer magazine and is republished here with permission. The notion of what constitutes “best practice” when it comes...

This article originally appeared in the September/October 2021 edition of the Patent Lawyer magazine and is republished here with...

Read More

25th Nov 2021

Spruson & Ferguson a gold sponsor of IPBC Australasia

Spruson & Ferguson is delighted to be a gold sponsor of this week’s IP Business Congress (IPBC) Southeast Asia in Singapore.

Spruson & Ferguson is delighted to be a gold sponsor of this week’s IP Business Congress (IPBC) Southeast Asia...

Read More

1st Nov 2021

Spruson & Ferguson and Shelston IP combine to create Australia’s largest IP firm

Today Shelston IP joins Spruson & Ferguson Australia to create the largest IP firm in Australia. The newly combined firm will operate under the Spruson & Ferguson brand, which...

Today Shelston IP joins Spruson & Ferguson Australia to create the largest IP firm in Australia. The newly combined...

Read More

28th Oct 2021

Insta, the power of a prefix – Instagram successfully opposes registration of INSTADATE

(Businesses should avoid adopting trade marks that contain elements that indicate well-known trade marks) Instagram LLC v Instagoods Pty Ltd ATMO 53 (16 June 2021) Instagram is often referred to...

(Businesses should avoid adopting trade marks that contain elements that indicate well-known trade marks) Instagram LLC v Instagoods Pty Ltd...

Read More

28th Oct 2021

Who owns a nickname? AUNTY HELEN registration refused in New Zealand

James Craig Benson v Helen Elizabeth Clark NZIPOTM 6 Whether endearing or disparaging, Australians and New Zealanders have been giving each other nicknames for well over a century, and...

James Craig Benson v Helen Elizabeth Clark NZIPOTM 6 Whether endearing or disparaging, Australians and New Zealanders have been...

Read More

28th Oct 2021

Biologische blocks Cresilon’s application to register TRAUMAGEL trade mark

Cresilon, Inc v Biologische Heilmittel Heel GmbH NZIPOTM 13 (23 June 2021) In this case, Biologische Heilmittel Heel GmbH (“Biologische”) succeeded in preventing the registration of the TRAUMAGEL trade...

Cresilon, Inc v Biologische Heilmittel Heel GmbH NZIPOTM 13 (23 June 2021) In this case, Biologische Heilmittel Heel GmbH...

Read More

28th Oct 2021

JULES TAYLOR not confusingly similar to TAYLORS for wines other than ports

Jules Taylor Holdings Limited v Taylor, Fladgate & Yeatman Limited NZIPOTM 12 (9 June 2021) An existing registration for TAYLOR’S and awareness of this mark in New Zealand was...

Jules Taylor Holdings Limited v Taylor, Fladgate & Yeatman Limited NZIPOTM 12 (9 June 2021) An existing registration for...

Read More

26th Oct 2021

The path to commercialisation: 10 things to consider after filing a provisional patent application

Significant resources are involved in research and development and conceiving patentable inventions, and the journey to commercialising an innovation is an equally large and involved task. Intellectual property (IP),...

Significant resources are involved in research and development and conceiving patentable inventions, and the journey to commercialising an innovation...

Read More

19th Oct 2021

Cat fight? Caterpillar bulldoze Puma in procat trade mark stoush

Caterpillar have successfully appealed a decision by the Registrar to dismiss their opposition to registration of Puma’s procat mark (as shown below) for goods in Classes 18 and 25. O’Bryan...

Caterpillar have successfully appealed a decision by the Registrar to dismiss their opposition to registration of Puma’s procat mark...

Read More

8th Oct 2021

Spruson & Ferguson practitioners recognised as Rising Stars in MIP IP Stars 2021

Senior Associate Dr. Adelia Lin has been recognised as a rising star in MIP's IP star rankings for 2020.

Senior Associate Dr. Adelia Lin has been recognised as a rising star in MIP's IP star rankings for 2020.

Read More

30th Sep 2021

The Designs Amendment (Advisory Council on Intellectual Property Response) Act 2021

The Designs Amendment (Advisory Council on Intellectual Property Response) Act 2021 (the Act) received Royal Assent on 10 September 2021. As mentioned in our previous article, this update will...

The Designs Amendment (Advisory Council on Intellectual Property Response) Act 2021 (the Act) received Royal Assent on 10 September...

Read More