We write about intellectual property issues which are amusing, curious, and sometimes downright astounding. We aim to bring readers a perspective on issues which affect our day to day lives. Intellectual property sounds esoteric, and sometimes unreachable. But we all live in a world which is brand oriented, online, replete with social media, and where most would agree that imagination, creativity and ideas deserve some kind of reward. This is where intellectual property comes to life. Our aim is to convey this enthusiasm to our readers, irrespective of background. You don't need to be a lawyer, or an entrepreneur, to get excited about IP!
How we got started
In 2009, when the idea of a blog sounded cool but few knew what it meant, lawyers in Mallesons' IP group were debating whether the learned articles they had submitted to academic journals were being read. In a time poor world where our clients and colleagues are forever 'on the go', we knew we had to find a different way to reach readers, and also to inspire ourselves.
This led to our decision to commence a blog, without significant ambition except as a place to reflect on the latest developments in intellectual property law. We had no idea of our audience (or, indeed, whether we would have one), what we would write about, what tone of voice we should use or whether it was possible to sustain a blog.
It is now 2011, and we can report that IP Whiteboard is going strong, and that we are growing and developing with our readers. Seeing our posts re-tweeted has energised the team.
Who we are
We currently have 14 members of the IP Whiteboard editorial committee from Mallesons' Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane offices. The editors are solicitors, knowledge consultants, senior associates and partners, mainly in Mallesons' IP team. Our team has provided IP advisory and litigation expertise to a diverse client base including some of Australia's biggest companies and brands across patent, trade mark and copyright law. We have also been at the forefront of legal developments in those areas. Every week, two editors are assigned to look after the blog. Their job is to review, edit and publish submitted posts, as well as find interesting stories about which the broader IP team can write. All blog posts are reviewed by a Mallesons partner and chief (partner) editor before being published.
Our authors have different styles and areas of interest. We definitely have an over-supply of celebrity watchers, ever fertile ground for trade mark disputes. But we also have film buffs who package this up as 'copyright expertise'. And we have to mention the patent nuts. For most of us, the question: 'who invented the wheel' can be answered in a few seconds by a Google Instant search. But for these guys? Well, they have devoted their lives to this and similar questions.
And if you wonder whether any arm twisting is needed to get posts published, the answer is 'almost never' (except for the odd post-Christmas slump where our Australian beaches beckon). This project has been a positive experience for everyone. We believe we are better lawyers for it, and relish the opportunity to share our thoughts and reflections with you.