Intellectual Property Articles
Expert articles and practical legal guides on intellectual property for australian businesses.
Setting Up An Incorporated Association In Australia: A Practical Legal Guide
Thinking about starting a club, community group, or not-for-profit? An incorporated association is a popular way to formalise a community initiative without going down the full company route. It can give your...
22 January 2025
McDonald’s vs Hungry Jack’s: What’s The Beef?
Big burger brands love a cheeky jab at each other. But in Australia, there’s a fine line between bold marketing and breaching trade mark or consumer laws. If you’ve followed the headlines...
21 January 2025
Why You Need A Brand Ambassador Agreement
Partnering with a brand ambassador can supercharge your marketing. Ambassadors help you reach new audiences, build trust through authentic recommendations, and generate sales with user‑generated content. But without a clear, written agreement,...
20 January 2025
Who Owns The Copyright In NFTs?
NFTs burst into the mainstream with the promise of digital ownership. But when you buy (or sell) an NFT in Australia, who actually owns the copyright in the artwork, music, video or...
20 January 2025
How Do Royalties Work?
Royalties are a common way to monetise intellectual property (IP) in Australia. Whether you’re licensing a song, a logo, a software product, a brand, or even a process you’ve developed, a well-structured...
19 January 2025
How To Use The Australian Trade Mark Search Tool
Protecting your brand starts long before you file an application. A smart first step is running a thorough check using the Australian trade mark search tool (often called ATMOSS or the Australian...
19 January 2025
Doing Business Overseas? Here’s What You Need To Know
Expanding into a new country is exciting. It’s a chance to grow your customer base, diversify revenue and build an international brand. But doing business overseas also introduces new legal systems, tax...
19 January 2025
Are Recipes Intellectual Property?
Whether you run a cafe, sell meal kits, publish a cookbook, or post recipes on your blog, you’ve probably wondered: can you legally protect a recipe in Australia? The short answer is:...
18 January 2025
A Guide To The Trade Marks Act 1995
Building a brand is one of the most valuable things you’ll do for your business. Your name, logo and taglines signal trust to customers - and the Trade Marks Act 1995 (Cth)...
15 January 2025
When Would I Need A Privacy Consent Form?
As a business owner in Australia, you’re likely collecting personal information every day - from customer emails and phone numbers to employee health information or recordings from your workplace security cameras. Most...
15 January 2025
Do I Need A Domain Name Licence?
Choosing a domain name is one of the first branding decisions you’ll make - it’s often how customers find and trust you online. But beyond the creative part, there’s a legal framework...
14 January 2025
Creating Content On YouTube? Watch Out For Copyright
YouTube is one of the best places to build an audience, grow a brand and create revenue streams in Australia. Whether you’re vlogging, publishing tutorials, reviewing products, or producing music and documentaries,...
14 January 2025
What Is A Notice Of Intention To Defend?
If your business has just been served with a court claim in Australia, you’re probably seeing a lot of unfamiliar paperwork. One document you’ll hear about quickly is a “Notice of Intention...
14 January 2025
When Do You Need An Import/Export Agreement?
Moving goods across borders is exciting - it opens your business to new suppliers, new customers and better margins. But international trade also introduces extra risk. Different laws, longer supply chains and...
13 January 2025
Guide To Trade Mark Infringements Australia
Building a distinctive brand is exciting - but when someone rides on your reputation (or says you’re riding on theirs), it can quickly become stressful. If you trade in Australia, understanding trade...
13 January 2025
What Is A Notifiable Data Breach?
If your business holds customer details, runs an online store, or uses cloud tools to manage clients, you’re a custodian of personal information. With that comes legal obligations under Australia’s Notifiable Data...
11 January 2025
Why It’s Important To Maintain Confidentiality In The Workplace
Confidentiality underpins trust in any workplace. Your customers trust you with their personal information, your team shares ideas that give you a competitive edge, and your partners rely on you to keep...
11 January 2025
Is Cybersquatting Legal?
Securing the right domain name is a big part of building your brand online. But what happens if someone else registers a domain name that’s the same as your brand (or confusingly...
10 January 2025
What Is IP Assignment?
If you’re building a brand, launching a new product or buying a business, there’s a good chance you’ll come across the term “IP assignment”. It sounds technical, but the idea is simple:...
8 January 2025
Colour Trade Marks And Why You Should Watch Out For Them
Colours do a lot of heavy lifting in your brand. They catch the eye, signal quality and help customers recognise you in a split second. But colours can also be protected under...
8 January 2025
Trade Marks - What Are They And Why Do We Need Them?
Your brand is one of the most valuable assets in your business. It’s how customers recognise you, talk about you, and ultimately decide to buy from you. In Australia, the strongest legal...
8 January 2025
How To Search For An International Trade Mark
Expanding your brand overseas is exciting - but before you file applications in new countries, it’s crucial to run a proper international trade mark search. A well-planned search helps you spot conflicts...
8 January 2025
A Guide To Running An Ecommerce Business
Thinking about launching an online store in Australia? Ecommerce is a flexible, scalable way to reach customers nationwide (and beyond), with lower overheads than a bricks-and-mortar shop. At the same time, selling...
8 January 2025
How To Register A Business Name In South Australia
Ready to trade under a name that customers will recognise and remember? Registering a business name is one of the first practical steps to getting your South Australian venture off the ground....
7 January 2025
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