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Intellectual property theft and employee information theft
Leica Geosystems Pty Ltd v Koudstaal (No 3) [2014] FCA 1129 (Leica Geosystems) is a notable court case involving an Anton Piller order and employee theft. Find out more about what this means for companies and their intellectual property rights.
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Online copyright infringement and stolen websites in Australia
This article examines copyright infringement, using the case of Motorcycle Aftermarket Spares Pty Ltd v Tamworth Cycle Tune Pty Ltd [2014] FCA 1433 as a warning to those who reproduce copyrighted material without permission. The Courts take a serious view of such actions.
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Anton Piller orders – preventing evidence destruction
An Anton Piller order is an extraordinary remedy used to prevent evidence destruction. This article explores scenarios in which it may be granted and the Court safeguards imposed.
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Ownership of employee inventions – disputing ownership of patents
Section 35(6) of the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth) establishes a general rule that an employer will own the copyright in many types of works if they were created by an employee or apprentice, in the course of their employment. Unfortunately, there is no such legislative equivalent in the Patents Act 1990 (Cth) (Act). The absence…
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Reverse engineering of software – legal boundaries?
Reverse engineering software in Australia is complex, with legal implications and cases providing authority on “infringing” verses “non-infringing” reverse engineering. Courts have provided some protection to intellectual property (IP) through licence agreements and distinguishing between ideas and expressions of a program.
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Dallas Buyers Club wins preliminary discovery order
The Federal Court of Australia has granted a controversial application that could allow copyright holders to identify and pursue alleged infringers of their work. Find out what conditions were imposed on the copyright holders and what this could mean for the future of online copyright infringement.
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Plant breeder’s rights – an introduction
This article explores the Plant Breeders Rights Act 1994 (Cth) and its implications for plant variety protection. Learn more about the exclusive rights granted to plant breeders, the registration requirements, and the exceptions that apply.
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Selling counterfeit poles breaches IP rights
Australian sellers Vertical Leisure Ltd and Dance4Me Pty Ltd have won AU$394,800 in damages from competitor Skyrunner Pty Ltd, who sold counterfeit “X-Pole” dancing poles. The Federal Circuit Court’s decision provides guidance for calculating damages for multiple IP rights breaches.
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Getting confidentiality agreements in place
Part 5 – Planning a business acquisition Confidentiality Agreements (Confidentiality Agreement or NDA’s) are essential in business Acquisitions, particularly if either the Target or Acquirer is subject to the ASX Listing Rules. Whilst generally an equitable obligation of confidence is applicable, a Confidentiality Agreement reduces the obligations of the parties to writing to ensure that…
IP litigation and disputes
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