Australia

Software and patents have always had a difficult relationship. Around the world, different rules in different jurisdictions create uncertainty for innovators wanting to know if their key innovations can be secured or whether the market is a free-for-all against competitors.

Track and trace smartphone applications used in the fight against COVID-19 are representative of a relatively new industry falling between the healthcare, IT, medical devices and pharmaceutical sectors.

Mānuka is the Māori name for the Leptospermum scoparium, a species of flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. Mānuka nectar is renowned for producing 'liquid gold', a pure honey possessing unique medicinal and antibacterial qualities.

In early 2019, IP Australia initiated a comprehensive research phase exploring Australia’s design ecosystem, including voices from the industry, design forums, economic analysis and business surveys. Following this 12-month exercise, the regulator has proposed the following changes:

Despite being a market of only 26 million people, Australia possesses a world-class healthcare system and well regarded scientific community. This is most recently demonstrated through the participation of Australian scientists in the race to successfully manufacture a COVID-19 vaccine, and by the low infection death rates from the current pandemic in Australia.