Intellectual Property
Successful protection, management and commercialisation of Intellectual Property is crucial in fostering innovation and differentiating your brand in the marketplace.
Technology is rapidly evolving, facilitating innovative ideas and providing a myriad of branding opportunities. But changes in technology are also providing new opportunities for your competitors to cash in on your brand and reputation.
No matter what industry you're in, your IP portfolio is one of your most valuable assets.
How we can help
We have extensive experience handling the IP portfolios of some of Australia’s and the world’s most famous brands and innovative companies. While we try to keep our clients out of court rooms, our track record in litigation is second to none.
We deliver protection for the whole life cycle of IP assets, including: searching, advisory, registration, opposition, portfolio management, litigation and enforcement.
We help protect your brand identity through strategic trade mark registration, enforcement, and portfolio management. Our team advises on clearance, prosecution, opposition, and infringement matters across jurisdictions. Our team provides end-to-end trade mark services, from brand strategy and registration to enforcement and dispute resolution, ensuring your brand assets are safeguarded globally. See our Trade Marks service page for more information.
Our patent attorneys have technical expertise and experience covering all fields of technology. This allows them to fully understand your invention and its competitive advantage in the marketplace, and to develop effective strategies to protect and commercialise that invention. We offer expertise in all aspects of patent strategy, protection, and enforcement. See our Patents service page for more information.
We have extensive experience advising on copyright ownership and infringement, developing licensing strategies and royalty arrangements, conducting copyright audits and acting in complex litigation. Our team helps clients understand and enforce their copyright rights, manage licensing arrangements, and resolve disputes involving unauthorised use or infringement.
Design registrations provide protection for the overall visual appearance of a product, including its shape, configuration, pattern and/or ornamentation. They are a powerful form of IP that can be used to prevent others from copying the appearance of your product. Our team provides strategic advice on design registration, infringement risk, and enforcement, helping clients maximise the value of their product aesthetics. See our Designs service page for more information.
We assist in securing, managing, and recovering domain names that are critical to your brand’s online presence. Our supports clients with domain name acquisition, dispute resolution and brand protection in the digital space.
We assist our clients to identify and protect the use of confidential information, trade secrets and employee know-how. Our team works with clients to develop confidentiality protocols, draft enforceable agreements, and take swift action in the event of misappropriation or breach.
We offer comprehensive IP portfolio management services to align with your business strategy. Our team provides tailored portfolio management solutions, including audits, renewals, and strategic advice to optimise the value and efficiency of your IP assets.
We help clients unlock the value of their IP through licensing, joint ventures, and commercialisation strategies. Our team advises on IP commercialisation across sectors, drafting and negotiating licensing agreements, and supporting technology transfer and monetisation initiatives that maximise returns while managing risk.
We provide IP due diligence and strategic advice in mergers, acquisitions, and other corporate transactions. Our team ensures IP assets are properly valued and transferred.
We represent clients in IP disputes across all forums, including courts, tribunals, and administrative bodies. Our team delivers strategic and effective enforcement of IP rights, combining litigation expertise with commercial insight to protect your competitive advantage.
Delivering integrated and highly specialised service
We combine the commercial and litigation skills of our intellectual property lawyers with those of our patent and trade marks attorneys to offer you a comprehensive and seamless intellectual property service, from creating, commercialising and managing your IP portfolio, to protecting and enforcing your rights.
Putting strategy at the forefront
Our focus is on understanding your business so we can help you plan your IP strategy effectively. We're known for our pragmatic, commonsense and streamlined advice, designed to help you achieve your commercial objectives.
Focusing on supporting our clients' success
As the pace of change continues to increase, our clients require pragmatic and commercial advice that supports their business strategy. We're committed to supporting your successes by providing dependable, transparent and high quality service, helping you focus on developing your business.
Experience
Redbubble Limited
Acted for the ASX-listed operator of a major online marketplace in the Federal Court of Australia by Hells Angels Motorcycle Corporation (Australia) Pty Ltd (Hells Angels) and The Pokémon Company, International Inc (Pokemon).
Infosys Limited
Acting in defence of the preliminary discovery application and Qudos' other allegations concerning a master banking services agreement.
Pfizer / Wyeth
Acting for Pfizer / Wyeth in patent revocation and infringement proceedings relating to the vaccine Prevnar 13.
Biomerics
Advising in Federal Court patent infringement proceedings commenced against Canadian manufacturer Diros Technology Inc and its Australian distributor M Medical Pty Ltd.
Beiersdorf
We advised Beiersdorf on a number of disputes with Unilever, on issues including comparative advertising, and defending Federal Court misleading or deceptive conduct allegations (and we're now acting on the appeal).
Gilead, Merck Sharp & Dohme and Sanofi
Acting in a dispute relating to breach of confidence by the Commonwealth of Australia, acting through the Commonwealth Department of Health.
ANZ
Assisted the big 4 bank ANZ with IP issues associated with the divestment of its wealth management arm to IOOF and divestment of its life and consumer credit insurance business to Zurich.
Wesfarmers
Acting in Federal Court proceedings commenced by Globe International Limited in relation to allegations of copyright infringement and misleading and deceptive conduct.
Trade mark portfolio management
Handling the trade mark portfolios for iconic brands such as Australian Olympic Committee, Ford, Just Group (Smiggle, Peter Alexander, Dotti, Just Jeans, Jay Jays, Portmans and Jacqui.E), Longchamp, PepsiCo, Hilton Worldwide, Samsung, Sony, Tiffany & Co and Visa.
Franchising
Advising on franchising related issues including the registration, use and protection of trade marks, marketing clearance and intellectual property disputes to clients including Ford, Dunkin' Brands (Baskin-Robbins, Dunkin' Donuts), PFG Australia, IKEA, Peugeot Automobiles Australia, and Ricoh.
Anti-counterfeiting
We have extensive experience in brand protection, from lodging and enforcing trade mark and copyright Notices of Objection in Australia and New Zealand to handling interlocutory and substantive proceedings in the Federal and Supreme Courts
Advertising
We advise clients on a range of advertising, sponsorship and marketing issues across various industries, including tv & film, food & beverages, music, electronics, and sport. From ad clearance to ACCC investigations, we help clients achieve their marketing objectives while minimising the risk of complaint.