Intellectual property law changes to speed up disputes

Long-awaited amendments to Australia’s intellectual property laws might speed up the resolution of disputes but could also increase costs for small and medium-sized businesses, IP experts say.

A senior associate from Mills Oakley Lawyers, said that while the industry doesn’t yet know how the amendments will play out, his preliminary view is that it may increase the initial costs of trademark dispute processes.

“The key benefit that I can see is that when there’s trademark opposition, they’ve shortened that process,” he said.

The three-month periods in which each side to a dispute can put in evidence has now been shortened to two months and applications for extensions will be more heavily scrutinised, he says.

It’s hoped that the amendments will reduce the delays in IP disputes, which can drag on for years.

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