Intellectual Property

Intellectual property (IP) can be defined as any product of the human intellect that is unique, novel and unobvious (has some value in the marketplace) - source: University of Texas, Arlington.
There are a range of methods for protecting IP, these include:

• patents; 
• copyright; 
• trade-mark;
• plant breeders rights; and
• trade secrets.

The protection of IP is a key step in the commercialisation pathway for all prospective biotechnology companies. Since the cost of research is high in the biotechnology sector, and the potential returns are linked to exclusivity, effective IP protection is important to this burgeoning industry. The protection of IP is a complex and difficult business as is the identification of potentially commercially valuable IP. 

Links

Australia has a well established and effective legal framework for the protection of IP. The following links provide further advice and information about this area.

The Advisory Council on Intellectual Property (ACIP)
ACIP is an independent body appointed by the Australian Federal Government. It advises the Federal Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources on intellectual property matters and the strategic administration of IP Australia.

Australian Copyright Council
An online copyright information centre. The Australian Copyright Council is an independent non-profit organisation. This website offers information on available copyright publications, news, updates, etc.

Biotechnology Australia: IP Management
Biotechnology companies rely heavily on strong patent protection due to the high costs of research and commercialisation in this sector, therefore the Biotechnology Australia website has provided some very useful information on intellectual property management.

The Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia
An independent society which provides a forum for the dissemination and discussion of intellectual property matters.

Intellectual Property and Competition Review Committee (IPCR)
The IPCR has been established by the Australian Government to review the impact of intellectual property laws on competition. From this site you can access the IPCRs report of September 2000 which incorporates the discussion and recommendations of the earlier "Report on Parallel Importing under the Copyright Act 1968".

Intellectual Property and International Trade: Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Contains useful Biotechnology and IP information - especially in relation to international trade.

Intellectual Property Society of Australia and New Zealand Inc. (IPSANZ)
An independent society which provides a forum for the dissemination and discussion of intellectual property matters.

IP Australia
IP Australia is a federal government agency that grants rights in patents, trade marks and designs. It aims to ensure that Australians benefit from the effective use of intellectual property (IP), particularly through increased innovation, investment and trade.

IP Menu
This site provides a global listing of IP resources on the Internet.

National Principles of Intellectual Property Management for Publicly Funded Research
Produced by The Australian Research Council; Australian Tertiary Institutions; Commercial Companies Association; AVCC; DETYA; Dept. of Industry, Science and Resources; IP Australia, NH&MRC. The purpose of developing these principles was to assist researchers, research managers and their research institutions, in ensuring that they have access to best practices for the identification, protection and management of IP, and therefore, to maximise the national benefits and returns from public investment in research.

The NSW Government does not accept any responsibility for the accuracy, currency, reliability and correctness of material presented in links to external sites. Reference from this web page does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by the NSW Government.