Protecting Your Domain Name
We all know by now that protecting your brand name by registering a trade mark is an essential step for all businesses to take – large or small. The cost to apply is greatly justified by the pro...
How private labels can increase your sales
Want to give fresh, new life to your business and increase your sales? Starting a private label may be the answer. Sales for department store David Jones were strong last Christmas, according t...
First African-American Woman to Patent a Natural Hair Product
I recently stumbled across an interesting article featuring the first African-American woman to successfully patent a natural hair product, Gwen Jimmere. She created a Moroccan Rhassou...
Selling on eBay: Setting up Shop (Part 1)
For some retailers, eBay can provide a successful channel to distribute their merchandise. For some retailers it’s their sole ‘shop front’ and for others it acts as an additional channel t...
Do you have an Intellectual Property Officer?
An increasing number of companies are recognising the importance of intellectual property (IP) as a core asset to their business, by introducing dedicated Intellectual Property Officers (or a Chief In...
‘Happy Birthday’ Song: Copyright-Free?
The ‘Happy Birthday’ song has been thought to be copyrighted since 1935 by music company Warner/Chappell, who purchased the rights to the song in 1988, but new evidence suggests that the song’s origi...
Protecting Your Intellectual Property as a Retailer
As a retailer, you understand that your products and services are what set you apart from your competition. Intellectual property is an essential asset to your business and your brand but, unfortunate...
Is your design protected?
Online media sites have become a popular platform for both new and established designers to showcase their designs. It is a way to get public exposure, allowing designers to build and m...
How Effective are Current Design Laws?
Current Issues in the Designs System Following a report by the ALRC, the Designs Act 2003 was introduced to replace the Designs Act 1906. The intended purpose of the Act is to encourage innovation and...
Minimising Legal Risk in Social Media Marketing
The benefits of social media to promote small businesses are both well known and well utilised. Free-to-use social media platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Instagram have revolutio...
Marc Jacobs Seeing Stripes?
Sports brand, Adidas, has filed a lawsuit against fashion brand, Marc Jacobs for trademark infringement and a number of other infringements such as deceptive trade practices relating to their use of s...
Trademarks – Are you protected?
It's no secret that businesses should consider protecting their Intellectual Property (IP) as soon as possible by applying to register their trademarks, but often businesses don't know how to go about...