applying for a patent
Protecting your ideas is our bread and butter. Tell us about your idea, and we will help you work out the best way to protect your invention to benefit your business.
We can advise you about the patentability of your invention by considering the type of technology and also the novel and inventive features.
If you want to apply for a patent, typically we would start with drafting a patent specification to describe your invention, then file a provisional patent application in Australia. After 12 months we help you decide if there are other countries in which you should file patent applications.
Patent Prosecution
Once your patent application has been filed, it will be examined by the Patent Office in each country. We support you in every step of this process, and we always provide you with clear cost estimates in advance so that there are no nasty surprises.
If you have already applied for a patent, we can assist with prosecuting the patent application during examination at the Australian Patent Office (IP Australia) and the New Zealand Patent Office (IPONZ). We also help with prosecution overseas if you choose to file patent applications in other countries.
Patentability and Infringement Advice
We can help you with novelty searches and patentability opinions, which can help you decide whether you want to apply for a patent.
If you are concerned that your product might infringe a patent, we can provide advice about both the validity of the patent and also the potential infringement.
Patent Litigation Support
Litigation is usually a last resort when it comes to enforcing your patents. However, in many instances, it is the only avenue to stop deliberate theft of your patented ideas. We work closely with patent lawyers and, where appropriate, patent litigation funders, to provide you with assistance in stopping patent infringers. We can provide strategies that are either defensive or offensive, depending on what you require in particular circumstances. Feel free to contact us for a confidential discussion if you require some help to stop someone infringing your patent, or to workaround a third party’s patent.