Patents

Patents - Griffith Hack

A patent is a temporary monopoly granted by the government to an inventor in return for disclosing the invention to the public in a patent specification. The monopoly provides the patentee with the exclusive right to exploit the invention in Australia, assuming the invention does not infringe a third party’s prior patent or contravene other laws. Once the monopoly ends, the invention described in the specification becomes public property and may be freely used by anyone.

It is essential that an invention is not disclosed to anyone before a patent application is filed. Early disclosure of the invention may reduce the scope of any patent eventually granted or may lead to the patent being invalid. Disclosure may take place by the spoken word, drawings, a written description, exhibition, use or sale. Some limited confidential disclosure may not be damaging, but it is best to seek advice before disclosing the invention.

Our services include:

  • Advising on the patentability of inventions.
  • Preparing patent specifications.
  • Conducting searches of patents and technical literature.
  • Filing and prosecuting patent applications in Australia and overseas.
  • Conducting infringement searches.
  • Investigating the validity of patents.
  • Filing and conducting oppositions to the grant of patents as well as defending applications against oppositions.
  • Defending against allegations of infringement.
  • Enforcing patent rights against infringers.
  • Negotiating and settling patent disputes.
  • Patent watching, monitoring and surveillance.

Click here for more information on our patents services


Contacts

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Amanda Stark BSc (Biochem) European Patent Attorney, UK Patent Attorney, FIPTA Principal Melbourne | 03 9243 8300
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David Hughes BE GradDip (TechMgt) Principal Sydney | 02 9925 5900
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Greg Munt BEng FIPTA Principal Melbourne | 03 9243 8300

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