Manner of Manufacture: Coarse patent filter becomes quite the grind

IP Australia have recently revised their Manual of Practice and Procedure (known as the Patent Examiners Manual) relating to Manner of Manufacture.  The revisions specifically relate to  Manner of Manufacture as it applies to computer related inventions. These revisions were made in light of the recent Rokt and Aristocrat judgments, although as at the time of writing both of …
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Flawed mental function saves the day in patent opposition

In a recent Australian Patent Office decision[1], an extension of time to file a complete Australian patent application was allowed despite a third party opposition.  The delegate of the Commissioner of Patents accepted that flawed mental function by the applicant in misunderstanding advice provided by their patent attorney was the cause of missing the deadline.   Extensions …
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CSIRO developing technologies and solutions in response to COVID-19

The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) is urgently investigating and developing new technologies aimed at limiting the spread of COVID-19 infection. One example technology is a new isolation hood device developed by CSIRO to reduce the risk of infectious particle transmission between individuals in close proximity. It is envisioned that the isolation hood …
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Commissioner of Patents v Rokt Pte Ltd

The law relating to the patentability of computer-implemented inventions is beginning to look settled in Australia following Commissioner of Patents v Rokt Pte Ltd (Rokt)[1]. The Full Federal Court in Rokt has reversed a curious decision of the primary judge in favour of a digital advertising method being patentable subject matter. In upholding the Commissioner’s …
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Method of innovation confirmed not a patentable invention

The Full Federal Court has dismissed the patent applicant’s appeal in Watson v The Commissioner of Patents[1].  We wrote about the judgment which was the subject of this appeal here. The decision upheld a finding that a method by which an organisation engages with an innovation service provider to innovate is not a patentable invention …
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Papua New Guinea COVID-19 Update

On 22 March 2020 the Papua New Guinea government declared a state of emergency due to the spread of COVID-19. Effective as of 24 March 2020, the Intellectual Property Office of Papua New Guinea will be physically shut for an initial period of 14 days. However, the Office will remain open in a digital capacity, …
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Innovation Patent Kill Bill Enacted 26 February 2020

Further to our blog post in October 2019 on the future of the innovation patent, the Intellectual Property Laws Amendment Bill (Productivity Commission Response Part 2 and Other Measures) (“Part 2 Bill”) received royal assent on 26 February 2020 passing the bill into Australian law.  The provisions of this new act will prevent new innovation applications …
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