Australian Intellectual Property Law

Updated to include recent important developments in Australian intellectual property law, this is an essential text for students and professionals.

Intellectual property law in Australia has changed dramatically in the last decade and continues to change. Developments in technology, the rise of the internet, the globalisation of trade and the increasing importance of 'superbrands' – trade marks with global appeal – have all affected the laws surrounding intellectual property. Furthermore, globalisation has resulted in greater pressure on intellectual property owners to expand their rights as they endeavour to capture the potential benefits of ownership in an increasingly affluent and integrated world economy. Australian Intellectual Property Law, 2nd edition has been fully revised to take into account these significant case and legislative developments in trademarks, copyright and patents law. This book offers students and legal professionals a detailed discussion of the black-letter aspects of the law, with a primary emphasis on legal principles and complexities.

The fourth edition of Australian Intellectual Property Law provides a detailed and comprehensive, yet concise and accessible discussion of intellectual property law in Australia. This edition has been thoroughly revised to cover the most recent developments in intellectual property law, including significant case law and discussion of the proposed and enacted amendments to the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth), the Patents Act 1990 (Cth) and the Plant Breeder's Rights Act 1994 (Cth). The text has been restructured, but continues to provide a complete discussion of the black-letter aspects of the law. Commencing with copyright, then followed by design law, confidential information, patents, plant breeder's rights, then finally trade marks. The work ends with a chapter on enforcing legal rights and civil remedies. Written by highly-respected intellectual property law researchers this text is an invaluable resource for both undergraduate and postgraduate students, academics and other professionals working with intellectual property.

Intellectual property laws now impact on our daily lives in much more obvious ways than in the past and effect how we access or engage with technology, medicine, nature, education and entertainment. Australian Intellectual Property uses broader social and economic contexts to locate the black-letter law in the everyday, making it an accessible introduction to IP that will equip students with a foundation of legal knowledge for either entry-level practice or to progress into more specialized postgraduate study of IP law. In relation to the key areas: copyright, design, patents, confidential information, passing off and trademarks the book provides: a policy overview of the legal category, its history and emerging trends an explanation of the structure of the legislation and associated rights leading case extracts to elucidate key legal principles and tensions The new edition includes a new chapter on the Criteria for the Subsistence of Copyright to address the significant developments in this area of Australia law following IceTv v Nine Network Australia (2009), extensive discussion of the impact of Intellectual Property Laws Amendment (Raising the Bar) Act 2012(Cth), and new cases and extracts.

This text is an introductory commentary and cases text for Intellectual Property Law, which follows a survey/critical approach to the main categories of IP law which are:. Copyright. Designs. Patents. Trade Marks and Business Reputation, and. Confidential InformationThis approach allows students to grasp the nature and scope of the relevant legislation, case law and administrative practice applicable in each area.

Comprehensive textbook guide to the legal issues in the increasingly important area of intellectual property. The authors cover questions related to copyright, patents, trade marks, employment and contracts. Acts as a reference to the major case law as well as raising more philosophical questions. McKeough and Andrew are senior lecturers in law at universities in NSW.