Home Tags Patent

Tag: patent

What is ‘design registration’? It’s all about protecting your good looks.

It’s vital that you take care of your looks. No, we are not talking about wearing the right sunscreen or drinking two litres of water a day (although that’s important too), we're talking about the best way to protect the appearance of your new product. Design registration refers to the overall visual appearance of a product, rather than the way it functions. Remember that when determining the appropriate type of protection for your product.

7 common intellectual property mistakes made by startups (and how to avoid them)

For many companies, particularly technology companies, intellectual property (IP) is their most valuable asset. However, many companies, especially start-ups, fail to adequately identify or protect their IP from the outset. This can often require more costly and cumbersome steps being taken at a later stage to adequately protect the company’s IP.

Tania de Jong talks about how her grandmother patented the foldable umbrella (then lost...

Two remarkable things happened at the launch of Creative Innovation 2010. Firstly, a senior representative from a leading Australian bank told an endearing story about her early successes outside the banking sector. (It's a rare thing to be won over by a representative from the Australian banking sector.) Secondly, conference organiser Tania de Jong, surprised the crowd with a story about her grandmother's inventiveness... before bursting into song.

Australia’s innovation ranking takes another hit while entrepreneurs rally

There are numerous programs and indexes launched each year to assess a country's innovation capabilities. Among the most comprehensive and credible is the Global Innovation Index prepared by INSEAD, which last week released its 2009-2010 report, revealing some unexpected outcomes. According to the report, Australia is losing its way as a country supportive of innovation. However, its innovation outputs are on the rise.

Australia's innovation ranking takes another hit while entrepreneurs rally

There are numerous programs and indexes launched each year to assess a country's innovation capabilities. Among the most comprehensive and credible is the Global Innovation Index prepared by INSEAD, which last week released its 2009-2010 report, revealing some unexpected outcomes. According to the report, Australia is losing its way as a country supportive of innovation. However, its innovation outputs are on the rise.

Can you keep a secret? Protecting your intellectual property from pirates

Brands such as Coca Cola are worth hundreds of millions of dollars and rely on secrecy to protect their secret formulae. Rumour has it that only four people know the formula for Coca Cola. It is also alleged that only four people know the secret to the finger licking good taste of Kentucky Fried Chicken. If companies like Coca Cola and Kentucky Fried Chicken can rely on secrecy, is that enough?

Sydney researchers develop energy-efficient model for cloud computing

A breakthrough by researchers at the University of Sydney is set to harmonise two of today's hottest emerging trends: cloud computing and energy efficiency.

Of logos, words and turf wars

Tony Eades' recent article, Is your logo a 'no-go'?, contained sound advice about the benefits of having a current and well-designed logo. Should you take up Tony's...

The Fine Print: Know your art

Published in Australian Anthill Magazine, Dec 2008/Jan 2009 The most successful companies not only continually innovate but they position their innovations within a framework of competitor...

Legal: Business method patents

One of the great misconceptions about patents is that they can only be obtained on an invention of a tangible item. However, patents can also be obtained for how a business function is performed, provided certain criteria are met. These patents are known as "business method patents".

Patently Aggressive

Your IP is registered, but that’s no guarantee your livelihood is safe from harm. Without enforcement, those patent and trademark certificates aren’t worth the...

Intellectual property

We love stories of simple ideas making millions: think Post-it Notes, Frisbee and eBay. Ideas need nourishment and protection as they move from R&D...

Arm mitten

BI-GOODNESS is a bi-monthly column dedicated to the quirky, generally funny and often dangerously impractical inventions and business concepts that occasionally come our way....

Exporting IP… trader beware

The US-Australia Free Trade agreement has got everyone talking. Like it or loathe it, smart companies are reading the fine print. They are doing...
Subscribe to the Newsletter Over 30K subscribers

FREE BUSINESS TOOLS

Five ways to manage your time by managing yourself, with Helen...

Finding the time to tackle everything is one of the greatest challenges faced by business owners. To help time-starved business owners work smarter and not harder, we spoke with Helen Ebdon. The director of Affirming Business and Executive Coaching, she’s a serial entrepreneur who started her first business at age 25. She’s built and run direct marketing and communications businesses and she’s also the creator of the Take 15 Program for business effectiveness.

FREE BUSINESS TOOL

INFOGRAPHICS

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...

OPINIONS & ADVICE