Intellectual property

Intellectual property covers a range of laws that give individuals and businesses exclusive rights over their creative and inventive projects.
  • Patents
    A patent is a right granted for any device, substance, method or process, which is new, inventive and useful.
  • Trade marks
    A registered trade mark gives you the exclusive legal right to use, license or sell your goods or services in Australia.
  • Copyright
    Copyright provides legal protection for people who express ideas and information in certain forms.
  • Trade secrets/confidentiality
    Common law protects you from people stealing your trade secrets, breaching confidentiality agreements and passing off trade marks.
  • Registered designs
    If you are the owner of a product then you can register its design to protect the visual appearance.
  • Circuit layout rights
    Circuit layout rights automatically protect original layout designs for integrated circuits and computer chips.
  • Plant Breeder's Rights
    Plant Breeder's Rights (PBR) are exclusive commercial rights to a registered variety of plant.

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