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How much does it really cost to protect your intellectual property rights?

Most people have a vague understanding of the various types of intellectual property rights, but few know exactly which rights relate to them and even fewer know how much this will cost. This new series takes readers through the ins and outs of intellectual property rights protection specifically for knowledge-economy businesses.

Is crowdsourcing killing the traditional design industry?

Love it or hate it, crowdsourcing - harnessing the wisdom of the crowd - is changing the face of design. Angelina Russo takes a look at the winners and losers in this democratic revolution.

Australia desperately needs a virtuous cycle of innovation

It says much about the schismatic nature of Australia's economic strategy that the Federal Government invited public submissions on how to build a clever country in the same week that it signed a $50B gas export contract with China. Jordan Green outlines his vision for Australia's knowledge economy.

Employees as dogs: The right breed for the job

There are as many different types of digital roles as there are breeds – and personalities – of dogs. Which personalities are best suited to which jobs? Here are my thoughts on eight match-ups: Jack Russell: Bold, alert and lively – big dog personality in a small dog’s body. Works well with early training and socialisation. This personality is suited for telesales.

Five must-sees before Australian VCs will invest

In part three of our series on the capital raising cultures in Australia and the US, San Francisco-based Steve Anderson explores the five things Australian and US venture capitalist must see before they will invest in an early-stage company.

Phillip Kingston, 2009 Anthill 30under30 winner

A serial entrepreneur at only 24, Phillip Kingston is the embodiment of drive and ambition, spurned on by a desire to prove his sceptics wrong. With 3 start-ups under his belt while at university his current success story, Kingston development, is taking the Australian software and website development industry by storm.

Connecting Aussie businesses online: Platform 46 founder Tim Ayling

Anthill contributor Dave Birchall recently caught up for coffee and an interesting chat with Sydney-based Tim Ayling, CEO of Platform 46, an internal online social network for businesses.

iPhone app review: Instapaper

Today we welcome Michelle Matthews, of Deck of Secrets fame, as our new iPhone app reviewer. She is a self-confessed iPhone junkie, with well over 250 apps on her iPhone, so she’s well qualified to give you the inside running. First up: the productivity app, Instapaper.

Unlock your global potential in Japan

China might have surpassed Japan as Australia’s number one trading partner, but the land of the rising sun still represents a large market opportunity for Australian companies who produce products in demand. Steve Dowling reports on the recent boom in organic food in Japan, and the opportunity that lies therein.

Clive Peeters’ $20m internal fraud – are you vulnerable too?

The Australian business community is still reeling from the news that a Clive Peeters employee managed to embezzle $20m before anyone noticed. The obvious question arises: is anyone safe from this kind of fraud?

Gen Ys – educate yourselves!

Jack Delosa, one of Anthill’s 2009 30under30 winners, begins a new series today about Gen Y and entrepreneurship. In this first column, he takes aim at an education system that is inadequate for 21st Century, leaving his generation with a reputation for preferring facebook and playtime to hard yakka.

What’s wrong with the people you’re working with?

Most employees can’t articulate the business mission statement. They don’t know what the business is trying to achieve. They come in every day and work in their own little world. Oh yes, and whose fault is that?

How to save MySpace

With a simple change in policy and little additional investment, MySpace would no longer be the place where people simply try and get famous enough to make it to TV or newspapers. It could become the destination. Mark Cameron thinks he knows how to save MySpace from terminal decline.

Under the microscope: Print Advertising vs Social Media Marketing

Which advertising medium – print or social media – provides more reach and more bang for your buck. It’s a complicated equation. Luke Faccini takes a peek under the hood.

The benefits of Australian VCs and US VCs

August is Venture Capital Month at Anthill and last week we launched a new series written by San Francisco-based Steve Anderson focusing on the capital raising cultures in Australia and the US. Today, Anderson discusses the comparative advantages and disadvantages of pursuing funding from Australian VCs or US VCs.

‘Throwing the book’ at the legal profession (Part 1)

Why is it that some of our society’s brightest minds have no idea how to translate their “no holds barred” skills from the court room to the public domain of marketing communication in a battle to win more clients? Maybe they just don’t need the extra business, maybe they don’t know how, or maybe the truth is a combination of arrogance and ignorance steeped in tradition.

What you can learn from the online porn industry

Most people giggle about the prevalence of porn on the internet, but the truth is that the porn industry has pioneered many of the technological innovations of our time. As an industry, these companies are good at what they do. Really good. And you should learn from them.

Chicago and the ‘O’ Factor

Chicago used to have a reputation for lawlessness and corruption. But, as Austrade’s chief economist Tim Harcourt reveals, it’s now a top-tier global business town and a place where Australian companies are shining.

Toddler training and CEO training – not so different

Mr 1% Spend had an encounter with the CEO of Petulance Corporation recently. It was illuminating. "The silence on the end of the phone was deafening. For any of you who have kids, it was that silent pause you get between saying no to whatever it is your toddler wants and the instant that the tears and screaming starts. Then the screaming started.”

When business is booming, but the cupboard is bare

An over-efficient accounts payable person can be the worst enemy of cashflow in a business, writes Sue Hirst.
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New Zealand’s Xero eyes US IPO, further disruption as subscribers increase...

Xero recently held its annual meeting in Wellington, during which the company revealed some interesting details about its future. As has been widely suspected, the...

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