From Idea to Intellectual Property

For First Nations people, cultural appropriation remains a major issue, and Western intellectual property protections continue to fall short of managing infringement.

In this episode of From Idea to Intellectual Property, we explore the IP of indigenous knowledge and cultural expression, and the tools in place that can help protect these cultural treasures while ensuring that indigenous communities retain control over their heritag...

One of the most costly trade mark infringements that commercial businesses face is the “dupe”, “fake” or “fraud” - duplicate, false or fraudulent products intent on poaching consumers at a lower price point (and often poorer quality).  

In this episode of From Idea to Intellectual Property, we assess the recent dupe explosion, brought on by the rise of online marketplaces on apps like TikTok, coupled with influencer marketing and f...

How will the next generation of lithium-ion batteries reshape the future of sustainable energy?

Lithium-ion batteries are the powerhouse behind electric vehicles (EVs), and as EVs become more popular, so does the need for better, longer-lasting batteries. After all, no one wants their road trip cut short because they ran out of charge halfway to their destination! These batteries are the key to making EVs go the distance, and the r...

How are you feeling about your reliance on technology, with all the news about AI, cyber-breaches and online scams?  

It’s hard not to feel slightly stressed or anxious. In this episode of the From Idea to Intellectual Property, we plunge into the depths of deep fake technology. We’ll get the official definition, find out just how deep fakes can be used for nefarious means, and what you can do about it. Spoiler alert: it’s tough!  

“If I told you, I would be giving you the keys to the enterprise.” 

When we think about intellectual property assets, trade secrets don’t typically make their way into the conversation, with more attention given to well-recognised assets like patents and trade marks. However, multi-million-dollar and billion-dollar enterprises tell us a different story. In 2018, a survey conducted by the USA’s National Science Foundation revealed t...

When developing an IP strategy, considering which regions to acquire IP protection is a vital step in ensuring a product or invention is secure. China boasts a prominent and innovative IP market, and homes one of IPH’s largest offices. 

Dr Siqi Wang is a Principal at Spruson & Ferguson, and Head of Patent in the firm’s Chinese practice. Here she shares her expertise on China’s IP system with host Lisa Leong, and shares the valu...

In recent times, AI has become a burning hot topic. The popularity of generative AI platforms such as ChatGPT have raised big questions in the world of work. But businesses have been using AI in their processes for longer than you think to create streamlined and efficient processes, for the benefit of both the business and its customer base. Some businesses, such as Qantas, are looking to leverage AI in all parts of their business,...

Quantum computing has quickly entered the mainstream, becoming a ubiquitous term used by technologists and non-technologists alike. But is it just a fad or a technological revolution that could alter aspects of all our lives?

In this episode of From Idea to Intellectual Property, Lisa Leong is joined by patent attorney Dr Simone Shu-Yen Lee who breaks down the complexities of quantum computing at both a conceptual and technical lev...

Shear Edge Managing Director Logan Williams recognised an issue in the oversaturation of waste in the wool and plastic industries. His work resulted in the world’s first woollen kayak, made of fully recycled materials, alongside a number of sustainably produced inventions.

Logan is a keen inventor always on the lookout for a problem worth solving. In this episode of From Idea to Intellectual Property, he shares the complexities of ...

“The internet? Nah, that will never catch on!” It’s been said before and will be said again, of the ideas that will change the world.

What makes one idea fly and another flop and how does the patent system and IP process help and challenge inventors?

In this episode ABC broadcaster Lisa Leong is in conversation with Dr Francis Gurry, IPH Strategic Adviser, unpacking the mysteries of the patent process and reflects on the big ideas ...

Do you ever feel like your phone knows what you’re thinking? What if your computer could tell how you’re feeling? Or could a robot be your therapist?

Emotion AI is an evolving technology, using algorithms to analyse how people feel through words, audio and video. From healthcare to chatbots to transportation, this episode unpacks the many diverse benefits Emotion AI might have on people and society.

In this episode ABC broadcaster ...

Plant breeding is often a time and resource heavy activity, so it is important that breeders can achieve a return on their efforts.  Plant variety rights (PVRs) or plant breeders rights (PBR) are a form of intellectual property (IP) that protects the work a breeder puts into developing a new plant variety.

As climate change accelerates, plant breeding programs are being used by agricultural businesses to develop plants that are abl...

The rising consciousness of women's health is accelerating female-focused innovation and investment. With many established companies already creating waves in the Femtech space, the untapped potential for innovation is huge. Spanning all areas that affect a woman's physical and emotional wellbeing, Femtech start-ups are thinking big about IP. 

Unravelling the issues surrounding the right mix of protective mechanisms to enable safe ...

What comes to mind when you think of the biggest innovators in cleantech? Obvious examples are electric vehicles, solar batteries, and the use of hydrogen in heavy industrial processes like steel and cement, but this is only the beginning. 

Solving problems sustainably is a booming industry, and bringing these ideas into the wider world is a complex jigsaw, a key piece of which is the protection offered to new inventions by patents...

Scientists commenced mapping the human genome in 1990, and while we’ve come a long way since then, we’re really only just starting out on the journey of using genetic material to solve problems in medicine, manufacturing and agriculture. 

However, as Griffith Hack Principal Karen Sinclair explains to host Lisa Leong, since mapping genetic material went mainstream, getting granted patent protection for genetic sequences has become ...

Roger Federer has won USD130m in prize money, but it’s the IP in his brand that’s really built his empire – his 10 year contract with Uniqlo is worth $300m alone, and isn't even dependent on him continuing to play tennis. 

World IP expert Dr Francis Gurry discusses the monetisation of sport, and explains how the sporting ecosystem, comprised of various rights including merchandising, trade marks,  branding, and broadcasting, relie...