Category Archive

A pandemic like COVID-19 can bring out the best and worst in people. Household brand names like McDonald’s, Volkswagen, Audi and others are all doing their part in reinforcing the social distancing message. Others just see opportunism, filing trade mark applications for COVID-19 covering bumper stickers, pencils and even for cleaning products. Trade mark offices around the world are being …

The recent emergence of COVID-19 may amount to a force majeure event. What does this mean to commercial agreement and performance pursuant to those agreements?  In some circumstances, the COVID-19 could excuse performance under a contract.  The question is when and what is required to suspend rights of performance under a contract. The recent emergence of COVID-19 may amount to …

The ACCC has established an internal COVID-19 task force with the aim of educating businesses about their obligations in relation to cancellations, refunds and suspension of services as a result of COVID-19.  That task force will be paying particular attention to price gouging, will consider affordability issues and consider a range of competition issues to ensure that Australian markets and …

We are pleased to welcome Dr Mary Turonek to our Perth Chemistry, Resources and Oil & Gas Teams. With a PhD in physical and inorganic chemistry, Mary specialises in the oil and gas sector as well as mineral processing, hydrometallurgy, mining processes and equipment, electrochemistry and battery technology, water treatment, waste management technologies and general engineering. With such impressive credentials, …

The Australian Patent Office makes clear that products with two physically separated parts are not eligible for pharmaceutical patent term extension. This note provides a brief summary on the recent decision of a Delegate of the Commissioner of Patents reported as Pharma Mar S.A. [2020] APO 8. Wrays acted for the applicant. Background Pharmaceutical patent term extensions (PTE) are available …

Due to the threat of COVID-19, many Patent Offices around the world have implemented the suspension of, or extensions in the time limits, to complete certain actions.  Although some deadlines to complete an action have been extended, in general, the payment deadlines of annuity/renewal fees remain unchanged. We have provided the following information on a selection of Patent Offices in …

It has been a year since the Modern Slavery Act 2018 (Act) has come into force and the first mandatory modern slavery statements (Statement) are due by as soon as the end of June this year, depending on the applicable accounting period of the reporting entity. Accordingly, this is an opportune time for all companies based or operating in Australia …

Earlier this year, APRA, AMCOS and PPCA launched a joint initiative in Australia aimed at making music licensing easier and simpler to access for Australian businesses. The initiative is called OneMusic, and it brings together in one bundle licences of all of the copyright works in each of the PPCA, APRA and AMCOS catalogues. Think musical works, sound recordings, music …

Don’t be fooled by the name and believe that if you are not involved with the ‘licensing’ of intellectual property that the Licensing Executives Society (LES) is not relevant for you or your business. Anyone seeking to extract value from or trying to leverage their IP assets for the benefit of their business will find value in what LES has …

Ever since it premiered, The Matrix film has been prompting movie-goers to question whether humanity is indeed, unknowingly trapped inside a simulated, virtual reality (to distract us from, for example, our bodies being used as batteries). Of course, such a question has been on at least some minds for centuries. In this regard, fellow students of philosophy, and particularly those …