Intellectual Property Point-in-Time Service Updates

The Intellectual Property Point-in-Time Service has been updated to include the Intellectual Property Laws Amendment (Productivity Commission Response Part 1 and Other Measures) Act 2018 (Cth) (Act 77 of 2018).

Act 77 of 2018

The purpose of the Intellectual Property Laws Amendment (Productivity Commission Response Part 1 and Other Measures) Act 2018 is to make improvements to IP rights legislation.

The Productivity Commission (PC) recently completed a public inquiry into Australia’s IP system. The PC was asked to consider whether current arrangements provide an appropriate balance between access to ideas and products, and encouraging innovation, investment and the production of creative works. The PC’s final report was published in December 2016, and the Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science and the Minister for Communications announced the release of the Government’s response to the PC’s inquiry on 25 August 2017.
The PC’s final report includes a number of recommendations on IP matters,1 which received support from the Government. Schedule 1 to this Act gives effect to the Government’s response to a number of PC recommendations that are ready for immediate implementation. 

Schedule 2 to the Act implements a number of measures to streamline and align the administration of the Australian IP system, and will implement a number of other IP law measures (mostly related to PBR enforcement).

The amendments made by this Act have been updated in the Point-in-Time Intellectual Property Service current to 11 October 2018. (NB: Subscription required).

If you are not already a subscriber to this or other Point-in-Time Services then please contact us to find out more or to take a free trial.