Mar 19 2020
90 countries were involved in Operation Pangea XIII, the annual global coordinated operation to tackle the illegal online sale of medicines and medical devices. Health regulatory authorities, customs and police officers from 90 countries took part in collective action aiming to prevent the illegal online sale of medicines and medical devices, including counterfeit face masks …
Feb 20 2020
Zespri has emerged victorious in a 2018 civil action brought in New Zealand against a kiwifruit grower and their Whakatane-based company. On 14 February 2020, kiwifruit producer Zespri announced the successful result of legal action taken against a kiwifruit grower who brought the global brand’s protected plant material from New Zealand to China where it …
Dec 02 2019
The International Trademark Association calls on brands to warn Generation Z consumers, who will become the largest global consumer group in 2020, about counterfeit products. This holiday shopping season, the International Trademark Association (INTA) is calling on brands to step up their communications to consumers about the danger of counterfeit products—especially among Gen Z, which …
Oct 15 2019
In June 2015, Australian copyright law was amended to allow for the court-ordered censorship of websites deemed to primarily facilitate copyright infringement. A host of relevant issues Since the introduction of the remedy in 2015, site-blocking orders have prevented a range of pirated copyright materials, including films, television programs and musical works, from being accessed online. …
Dec 29 2018
Earlier this month, the Australian government passed a controversial new law that would allow law enforcement and government agencies to demand access to encrypted communications. Under the new legislation, companies who fail to comply with requests could face fines up to $10 million (AUD), and individuals could face fines up to $50,000 (AUD). The legislation includes powers …
Aug 24 2016
The recently negotiated Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement contains provisions that would dramatically impact intellectual property in the United States and elsewhere if ratified. The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)—a favored talking point among our presidential hopefuls—is an international trade agreement between twelve nations. The agreement was signed earlier this year, but is not yet ratified in most member countries including …
Oct 22 2014
In the eyes of the law a person’s creative works – the products of their mind – are regarded as assets. Just like assets that are more solid, these works must be protected from theft or damage. In New Zealand copyright is governed by the Copyright Act 1994. It protects creative works such as books, …
Oct 07 2014
What is intellectual property law? Intellectual property law is an umbrella term given to the large and detailed area of law that regulates aspects of human creativity and innovation. There are three main areas of intellectual property law: copyright, patents and trademarks. Each of these areas has related rights, which are also part of intellectual …
Jul 27 2014
So, you’ve built a better mousetrap and you think that it’s going to put you on easy street? Before you give up your day job you should obtain a patent, the best form of legal protection for an inventor. What is a patent? A patent is the sole right, given to you by law, to …
Jan 08 2013
The roles and obligations of internet service providers (“ISPs”) in relation to online piracy have been a subject of great uncertainty and debate. In the past year, ISPs in the United Kingdom and Australia have been taken to court by copyright owners to compel the ISPs to block their users’ access to copyright infringing websites, …
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