Mallesons IP Whiteboard - Designs

Free online tool for small businesses - Intellectual Property Explorer

Mallesons IP Whiteboard — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 17:28:03 +1000

A new free online tool, called Intellectual Property Explorer, is available to help small and medium sized businesses recognise, review and manage their intellectual property assets. The Intellectual Property Explorer has a range of useful features to assist businesses in identifying their intellectual property assets, including simple and easy to understand explanations of intellectual property concepts and a handy guide to reviewing and recognising intellectual property. read more »

First Full Court decision under the Designs Act 2003

Mallesons IP Whiteboard — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 13:34:26 +1000

The case of Keller v LED Technologies Pty Ltd is the Full Federal Court of Australia's first decision on the tests for validity and infringement under the Designs Act 2003. In particular, the Court offers guidance on the new test of “distinctiveness” required for a valid design. Mallesons' Shyama Jayaswal examines the decision here. read more »

New Year's IP Resolutions

Mallesons IP Whiteboard — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 18:08:56 +1100

January is resolution time. A universal thought takes over: "I need to quit smoking, lose weight and call my mother more!" The IP Whiteboard team are not immune to this infectious optimism, and have put together some "IP resolutions" to kick off Twenty Ten. It's not exactly Letterman's Top 10, and we know that resolutions aren't always kept, but here goes! read more »

Google registers its iconic home page as a design

Mallesons IP Whiteboard — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 15:59:46 +1000

One might think that Google's minimalist home page is among the most commonplace of designs. Apparently not. On 2 September, Google obtained a US design patent for the company's iconic home page. read more »

Clothing cases reveal the limits to design protection

Mallesons IP Whiteboard — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 10:55:59 +1100

Three recent cases instituted by Review (an Australian clothing designer and retailer) against alleged infringers of its registered dress designs have shown how difficult it can be to deter would-be infringers. Although in each of the three cases the respondent was found to have infringed Review's registered designs, the damages awarded in each case varied widely and unpredictably. read more »