Spruson & Ferguson

Protection and enforcement of virtual designs in Australia is a grey area, but that may be set to change. Following a future-focused review of the Designs regime with a view to providing certainty and encouraging innovation, IP Australia has proposed bold changes in three key areas: virtual designs, partial designs and incremental designs. Patent Attorney Alejandro Vidal and Principal Rodney Dabboussy provide a summary of the proposed changes and the issues highlighted through IP Australia's public review process. 👉 To learn more about how these reforms could shape the future of design protection in Australia: https://lnkd.in/gR_BjSfu #DesignProtection #DesignInnovation #VirtualDesigns #IPAustralia #DigitalAge #360degexpertise

Changes to Singapore’s patent drug linkage system bring clarity to therapeutic product registration, but also an alert for patent applicants when formulating claims.   The patent drug linkage system requires that an applicant seeking to register a therapeutic product which utilises patented elements belonging to a third party must make a declaration to the Health Science Authority (HSA). The third party patent holder or proprietor can then halt the process for up to 30 months via an injunction or declaration.   Principal and Chemical Practice Group Leader in Singapore, Chiou Yu Choo and Patent Scientist Dr. Jingxi He detail the changes regarding which patents must be listed in the HSA declaration and which have been removed. Patent applicants should seek strategy advice from their patent professionals, so reach out to the team at any time. https://lnkd.in/gQQSBjUC #intellectualproperty #ip #patent #singapore #patentdruglinkagesystem #druglinkage

We are excited to be joining the AusBiotech conference this week, chairing two panel discussions and connecting with many of our clients and colleagues! Information on the panel sessions is at the link below, and reach out to any of our attendees if you'd like to organise a catch up! Panel chairs: Principal Peter Brown, PhD in the AgriBiotech & BioSecurity Summit Principal Sylvie Tso discussing the current and future use of AI in the industry During the conference: Principal Ean Blackwell Principal Dr Catherine Winbanks Special Counsel Matthew Stewart Senior Associate Michelle Blythe We look forward to seeing you there! 👉 Panel session information: https://lnkd.in/g5qV8A5i #ausbiotech2024

To celebrate World Sustainability Day, our Australian CSR Committee organised morning teas in each of our offices with a special gift for everyone - Peperomia plants! These semi-succulents are reasonably low maintenance and perfect to brighten our offices and keep the oxygen fresh. Principal at Spruson & Ferguson Lawyers, Sylvie Tso spoke on behalf of the Committee in Sydney: "World Sustainability Day is on 26 October each year and is a global initiative dedicated to raising awareness about sustainability and the importance of adopting practices that protect the environment for future generations. It’s a good chance to think about what we can do to protect the environment, such as recycling, purchasing eco-friendly products, using less power, and of course planting trees. Even small actions can have a big impact on the environment." A great reminder of the power of collective action. Happy World Sustainability Day! Michelle Calder, Penelope Stavrou, Candice Noring, Taryn Francis, Serena White, Michael Christie #worldsustainabilityday #sustainability #360degcommunity

The patent landscape for medical AI, health data and medical software can be a complex area, so our team was invited to the UNSW campus in Sydney yesterday to talk with researchers, business managers and legal counsel. Through an engaging workshop, Principal Ayesha Lee and Patent Attorney Alexandre Francois presented insights on the patentability of AI-related innovations and entitlement issues, before Spruson & Ferguson Lawyers Principal, Sylvie Tso, rounded out the session by talking through the various legal considerations for AI innovations. With thanks to UNSW and the team for the invitation - Leo Stevens, Desmond L., Samantha Fung, Eric Xiaojia Wei and Trevina Naidoo. It was a great opportunity to meet everyone and share these highly topical insights! 👉 Reach out to the team for all of your IP needs across Australia and the Asia Pacific region. #AI #AIinnovations #patentability #patents #intellectualproperty #360degexpertise

Preparing for the world of work can feel daunting for students, making the Beacon Foundation's well-designed programs so vital. We are always pleased to partner with Beacon, and our team values the opportunity to help students prepare for life beyond school. Last week, a class of 15 year old students from Plumpton High School joined us in our Sydney office for the POLISH program (See Tim's post below). They had some great questions (and decidedly curly hypotheticals) for our volunteer team, who thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the students and sharing insights on navigating the workforce and careers. With thanks to Tim Lloyd and the dedicated teachers at Plumpton High School, your students were fantastic. Thanks also to the Beacon team for organising - Matthew Phyland, Taylor Angelo and Rosemary Conn. And of course, thanks to our volunteer team: Leon Salvaggio, Rachel Craft, Stuart Hughes, Michael Christie and Ryan Boe. #360degconnection

Opportunities are key for all professionals, and we are so pleased that Senior Associate, Nadine Martino at Spruson & Ferguson Lawyers had exactly that at the Energy & Resources Law Association conference last week. Nadine joined three other talented young professionals in the Recent Developments session, speaking on the high profile Fortescue v Element Zero case. "It was a privilege to wrap up the conference with a discussion on misappropriation of IP by former employees. A key risk when navigating the critical path to a sustainable future," Nadine said. "I'm incredibly grateful to the Energy & Resources Law Association for the opportunity to present with the next generation of E&R lawyers, and to the engaging Professor Tina Soliman Hunter who was an expert moderator!" With thanks to the team at E&R Law for helping to nurture the future of young professionals. #360degopportunity #youngprofessionals #ERLaw2024

Next-gen battery innovations, like those from our client Sicona Battery Technologies, are set to boost the #energytransition. Sicona leverages low cost and abundant silicon metal to develop next-gen battery materials, and CEO Christiaan Jordaan understands what it takes to drive success. The Sicona team has 4 years' post-lab commercialisation & piloting under their belt, and worked closely with Principal Gareth Dixon and our clean tech team to secure close to 100 patents. Christiaan recently joined 🎤 Lisa Leong for the latest episode of 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗜𝗱𝗲𝗮 𝘁𝗼 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘆 to discuss the science behind these innovations, their potential to drive sustainability and combat climate change, and the pivotal role intellectual property plays in turning them into market-ready solutions. He shares real insights, and it's another great conversation from Lisa and the IPH Limited team. 🎧 Take a listen at your link of choice, and reach out to our team anytime for strategic IP advice, tailored to you and your business. Apple - https://lnkd.in/gN-N3jrf Spotify - https://lnkd.in/gjcNNYsV IPH website - https://lnkd.in/g6rRsckR #cleanenergy #energytransition #batterytechnology #nextgenbattery #Sicona #IPH #360degexpertise

We are honoured to be awarded Patent Attorney Firm of the Year for Australia at the 2024 Global IP Awards! “This award is testament to our outstanding patent teams across Australia, who are dedicated to ensuring that the exceptional clients we work with receive the most comprehensive service and strategic IP advice available," Managing Director, Simon Potter said. “We will continue to focus on facilitating the best outcomes for our clients and the valuable contributions they make to our society.” Congratulations to our dedicated teams, and thank you to our outstanding clients! 👉 Read more here and reach out to our team for any of your IP needs in Australia and across the Asia Pacific: https://lnkd.in/gCDNtzCX #globalIPawards #patents #recognition #360degexpertise

The Nobel Prize winning discoveries for chemistry in 2024 have enabled protein structure prediction and design, which significantly benefits humankind. Last week, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced that the 2024 Nobel Prize for chemistry was awarded to David Baker for “for computational protein design”, jointly with Demis Hassabis and John M. Jumper “for protein structure prediction”. In the second of our Nobel Prize winner articles, Special Counsel David Hvasanov (王大卫) and Associate Yuchen Yao explore selected patents where Baker and Jumper are listed as co-authors. For those with an interest in the most commemorated scientific and technological achievements in 2024 and intellectual property, enjoy the detail in these fascinating discoveries! 👉 https://lnkd.in/gTisVsW4 Michael Zammit, PhD, Elizabeth Barrett, Gareth Dixon, Doug Horton, Mark Roberts, Ken Johnstone, Matthew Stewart, Serena White, Maureen Lobo #nobelprize #chemistry #intellectualproperty #IP #patents #360degexpertise