From Idea to Intellectual Property

Picture this – you're an inventor who’s come up with an idea you know is going to change the world and make you rich. You’ve put together a great prototype and a solid product name – but how can you take it to the next level?  In this episode of From Idea to Intellectual Property, we explore how inventors can and should use the IP system to turn their great ideas into big business with the right advice and financial backers.  Host Lisa Leong is joined by Griffith Hack Principal David Hughes, who provides his insight on how inventors should approach IP strategy to boost their businesses through every step of the journey. In addition, Curtin University Executive Director Rohan McDougall provides insight on the pathway from innovation to commercialisation. Griffith Hack has been a long term sponsor of Curtin University’s “Curtinnovation” Award, which awards inventors at Curtin University a cash prize and support in taking their innovations to market.  

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 heritage.  Host Lisa Leong is joined by Smart & Biggar Associate Meika Ellis, who specialises in collaborating with indigenous peoples, businesses and organisations to create protections for their culture and knowledge. Here, they discuss the complexities of protecting and preserving this knowledge, and its unique place in the world of IP.  

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 fast fashion brands. The price point and easy access to dupes makes them a difficult temptation for consumers to resist, and their prevalence makes monitoring infringement a challenging task.   Host Lisa Leong is joined by Kristin Carden, Director of FernMark at New Zealand Story, the New Zealand Government agency responsible for upholding the Silver Fern trade mark, an iconic piece of imagery for the nation.   Lisa is also joined by AJ Park Principal and Litigation & Dispute Resolution Practice Group Leader Thomas Huthwaite. Here, he discusses the evolution of tracking down dupes, and how the landscape has changed with the increase of online marketplaces.   This episode unpacks the importance of protecting brand imagery, and the challenges involved in implementing these protections in an increasingly fraudulent online world.  

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 race is on to make them even more efficient and eco-friendly.  In this episode of From Idea to Intellectual Property, we take a look at the latest breakthroughs in next-gen battery technology and their potential to drive sustainability and combat climate change. Join host Lisa Leong and Sicona Battery Technologies CEO, Christiaan Jordaan as they discuss the science behind these innovations and the pivotal role intellectual property plays in turning them into market-ready solutions.

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!   Join host Lisa Leong and Tara D’Aigle-Curley, Senior Associate at ROBIC as they unpack the technological advancements, legal ramifications, and ethical concerns surrounding this transformative, yet controversial technology.   Tara is a Privacy and Data Protection Officer at ROBIC, a member of the IPH network. She specialises in privacy and information technology issues. 

“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 that trade secrets ranked number one as the most valued of the IP suite.   Trade secrets can cover the operations and details outside the realm of patents and trade marks, and can be crucial to a business's competitive advantage. In an increasingly leaky world, with cyber incidents near constantly in the headlines, protecting trade secrets is more important than ever, and it’s no wonder these assets are shrouded in conspiracy theories.  In this episode of From Idea to Intellectual Property, IPH Strategic Advisor and former Director-General of WIPO, Dr Francis Gurry, unpacks the ins and outs of trade secrets and their extensive history in influencing global markets.

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 value of considering the Chinese market when building an IP strategy.  

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, from AI run helplines to speed up response times, to biometric systems that reduce documentation at the airport.   AI systems continue to build momentum, and IP professionals have much to consider in the way that data is used in these systems, who can use it and who owns its outputs. Spruson & Ferguson Lawyers Principal Mark Vincent discusses the rapidly developing world of AI in business and its benefits for customers, and the complex considerations for IP professionals in ensuring that data in these systems has the right protections, and that legislation keeps up with this growth.  

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 level, and provides three examples of where the technology could be applied. Simone also breaks down patent filing trends in this space and explains how Australia is capitalising on this ground-breaking industry. With a PhD in Optical Physics from the University of Adelaide, Simone draws on her vast knowledge and experience to simplify this complex topic. 

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 inventor process with host Lisa Leong. AJ Park Principal Dr. Hannah French provides insight on the role of patents in the inventorship process, and how intellectual property protection helps bring these big sustainability ideas to life.