Changes to the Franchising Code of Conduct
If you are a franchisor or a franchisee, it is important to note that amendments were made by to the Franchising Code of Conduct (“Code”) on 1 June 2021. Most of these amendments will apply to franchise agreements entered into, renewed or extended on or [...]
Artificial Intelligence – An Inventor?
In a sign of the times, the Federal Court of Australia (“FCA”) has recently considered whether an artificial intelligence machine is capable of being an “inventor” for the purposes of the Australian Patents Act 1990 (Cth) (“Act”) and corresponding Regulations. On 30 July 2021 in the [...]
Kim Kardashian-West in Trade Mark Dispute over “SKKN”
The ‘KK’ moniker is one that is very well known, especially with the rise of social media. Mrs. Kim Kardashian-West (‘Mrs. Kardashian-West’) has dominated the world over, and it would seem that everything Mrs. Kardashian-West touches, turns to gold – whether that be tech, cosmetics, or [...]
The importance of making sure you are using your registered trade marks
It is a cornerstone of trade mark law that the owner of a registered trade mark must use the mark as registered, in relation to the relevant goods and/or services the mark is registered for. That being said, it is too often the case that a [...]
When your name is the Brand – the benefits of trade mark protection
In today’s highly digital and connected world, protecting the brand name of your business is important. The impact and influence of social media has increased the scale of brand promotion and broadened the reach of businesses and in particular, celebrities and influencers to millions of [...]
Brexit and your EU and UK trade marks
As has been reported on, the United Kingdom (“UK”) voted to leave the European Union (“EU”) in 2016, with this exit officially occurring on 31 January 2020. "Brexit” as the exit of the UK from the EU has become known, has affected businesses and citizens [...]
An Update on the Spam Act
Many of us, have from time to time, received unsolicited emails or other messages from unknown sources, or businesses keen to advertise an event or product through content marketing. It is important to note however that in Australia, legislation known as the Spam Act 2003 (Cth) (“the [...]
New .auDA Domain Name Rules effective on 12 April 2021
The .au Domain Administration (auDA) announced new licensing rules to the country code Top Level Domain (ccTLD) effective on 12 April 2021. The ccTLD is an Internet top-level domain, which is generally used or reserved for a country, sovereign state, or dependent territory and is [...]
Brand Management and Protection – Practical Expertise
In today's world, brand management and protection strategies are the key to the success of many businesses. Business owners are continuing to move their businesses online focusing on remote sales and developing new remote products and services in this new world. New markets are also [...]
Spamming and the Spam Act
Many of us, have from time to time, received unsolicited emails or other messages from unknown sources, or businesses keen to advertise an event or product through content marketing. This would seem to have become even more rife during the COVID-19 period, as businesses have sought [...]