Flowcharts



The Australian Standard Patent System
This flowchart has been prepared to illustrate the normal Australian patent system from the point of view of the Australian user.

The chart will also be of interest to foreign applicants for Australian patents, provided a basic patent application in their home country followed by the lodgement of a convention application in Australia within 12 months, is substituted for the provisional specification/ complete after provisional specification system illustrated in the chart.


The Australian Trade Mark System
This flowchart has been prepared to illustrate Australian trade mark application procedures. Although prepared with the Australian trade mark owner in mind, it is equally applicable to foreign trade mark owners seeking to register their trade marks in Australia.

The Australian Designs System
This flowchart illustrates the procedures involved in obtaining and renewing an Australian registered design. Because Australia uses a Statement of Monopoly, it is possible to direct design protection to only a part of an article. Thus a design registration can protect the shape of the handle of a knife, but be unconcerned with the shape of the blade of the knife. Spare parts can also be protected.


The Australian Innovation Patent System
These are short term patents, requiring a lesser degree of inventive merit than a standard patent. The main advantage with innovation patents is that they are granted quickly. The main disadvantages are early publication and that the term is so short, only being a maximumof 8 years. It is possible to protect the same invention utilising both an innovation patent and a standard patent. The innovation patent system has replaced the former "Petty Patent" system.

 
 
 
Copyright 2007 Hodgkinson McInnes Patents