Resources

Government & Official Resources

IP Australia – The official Australian government agency responsible for patents, trademarks, designs, and plant breeder’s rights.

To see if your Intellectual Property is available in Australia, check here:

Australian Copyright Council – Provides information and legal advice on copyright matters in Australia.

Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) – Covers consumer rights, fair trading, and competition law, including misleading claims about IP.

Attorney-General’s Department (Intellectual Property Policy) – Government policies and regulations regarding intellectual property laws.

Federal Court of Australia – Intellectual Property Cases – For clients interested in past IP legal decisions and case law.

To search existing IP overseas:

IP Office New Zealand - The official New Zealand government agency.

WIPO (World Intellectual Property Office)

PATENTSCOPE – An International patent search system provided by WIPO.

Global Brand Database – An online trademark search tool provided by WIPO to search multiple national and international jurisdictions.

US Patent Center – search, view and track U.S. patent applications and granted patents.

Download US patents in their original format.

Patent Search (AusPat) – IP Australia – A free database to search for Australian patents and applications.

World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) – International IP laws, treaties, and patent/trademark searches.

Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) System – For those seeking global patent protection.

Trademark Search (Australian Trade Mark Search – IP Australia) – To check the availability of trademarks in Australia.

Madrid System (International Trademark Registration) – For businesses looking to protect trademarks internationally.

ASIC Business Name Search – Check registered business names to avoid trademark conflicts.

Safe Harbour Provisions – Australian Copyright Law – Information on copyright infringement protections for online service providers.

Fair Use & Copyright Exceptions (Australian Copyright Act 1968) – Explanation of permitted uses of copyrighted material.

Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO) – Assistance for small businesses dealing with IP disputes.

Grants & Funding for Innovation (Business.gov.au) – Government incentives for inventors and startups.

Australian Federal Police – IP Crime Unit – Reporting counterfeit goods and intellectual property theft.

Customs & Border Protection – IP Infringement – Reporting and preventing importation of counterfeit goods.