Commercialisation Australia to Cover IP Costs

In January, the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research launched Commercialisation Australia, a new initiative to assist researchers, entrepreneurs and innovative companies to convert ideas into successful commercial ventures. Up to $50,000 will be available to firms to access specialist business advice and services including intellectual property management. Eligible expenditure include fees for the cost of filing a patent application, patent search and examination fees, and annual patent maintenance fees. [more]

Warning: Unsolicited IP Services

IP Australia occasionally receives notification of instances in which inventors, designers and businesses have fallen victim to companies offering fraudulent IP protection, promotional or advertising services. [more]

WIPO & QUT Launch Post Graduate Program in IP Law

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and Queensland University of Technology (QUT) have collaborated to offer a Master of Intellectual Property Law program from February 2010. [more]

Peer-to-Patent Australia Trial

Australia’s first Peer-to-Patent pilot project is approaching its half-way point. The patent applications currently on the Peer-to-Patent Australia website will be open for peer review until 9 March 2010. The second phase of the project will then commence, with a new set of patent applications becoming available on the website for peer review. [more]

Business Method Patents in Australia - Davies Collison Cave

The Australian Full Federal Court has recently clarified the extent to which business methods can be patented in Australia. A business method will be patentable provided it involves a physical effect in the sense of a concrete effect or phenomenon or manifestation... [more]