The Latest
The News & Views section of the Lesanz website is a great way to read about Lesanz and what press releases we have worked on and items of interest in IP generally. The Bulletin, however still offers the most comprehensive information and articles for LESANZ! Published bi-monthly, it is available to download on this site under Bulletin. If you would like to read our latest copy or get information on advertising with the Bulletin, click here. Otherwise feel free to check below regularly for items of interest.
World IP Day Essay Prize "Innovation to Save the World"
Help us “Save the World” and win $500!
To celebrate World IP Day 2012, and hosting the LESI 2012 Annual Conference, LESANZ announces the following Essay Prize.
Inspired by the theme of the LESI 2012 Annual Conference, Commercialising Innovation to Save the World, the competition is open to all LESANZ members and the deadline for submissions to the LESANZ Secretariat is 13 April, 2012.
See details of Essay Prize
"Innovation to Save the World" Conference, 1-4th April 2012
22 February 2012 - Scoop Business Online
Senator Kim Carr responds to LESANZ on Patent Amendment (Human Genes and Biological Materials) Bill 2010 position paper.
28 October 2011
We are very pleased to report that this week, LESANZ received a letter from The Hon. Kim Carr, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, thanking the Society for its contribution to the public debate on the Patent Amendment (Human Genes and Biological Materials) Bill 2010.
On the 20th September you received, via broadcast, a copy of the LESANZ briefing paper to which Senator Carr has responded. This document was also circulated to heads of Federal Government and other bodies and/or individuals who had contributed to the debate.
In his letter to Dr Mark Horsburgh, President of LESANZ, Senator Carr noted "that LESANZ considers the existing safeguards in the Patents Act 1990 and the proposed infringement exemptions in the IP Laws Amendment (Raising the Bar) Bill 2011 are appropriate measures for ensuring that the public and researchers have access to patented technologies". He further noted that "I am concerned about the impact of the [Patent Amendment (Human Genes and Biological Materials) Bill 2010], which may not align to the broader objectives of our patent system". In mid September, the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee recommended that the Senate should not pass the Private Members' Bill. Senator Carr stated in his letter that "The Government will carefully consider the Committee's report and the impact of all policy options before we act", and acknowledged the contribution LESANZ has made in relation to this public debate.
LESANZ will keep members informed of any further developments on this debate and is grateful to the members and those on the Executive who contributed to the development of this position paper.
LESANZ's Simon Rowell writes letter to the editor of BRW arguing need for patent protection.
13 October 2011 - BRW
Licensing Executives Society Australia & New Zealand’s Simon Rowell wrote to BRW in response to Kath Walter's column 'When patents hinder progress', printed 13 Oct.
In her column, Kath outlined advice she had received "that a patent is only as good as your ability to protect it", suggesting that protection is expensive and often not worth the effort.
Here's Simon's response: To The Editor:
I write in response to the column by Kath Walters in your 13 – 19 October edition titled “When Patents Hinder Progress”.
Without a patent a new invention would likely be copied extremely quickly and the inventor wouldn’t have any chance of stopping it. Even if the patent deters or delays one competitor, the protection has paid for itself. If someone does infringe the patent, at least you know there’s someone very interested in using the invention – and a probable candidate to become a licensee of your technology. Without the patent, the inventor would have no leverage to force the infringer to pay a royalty.
Patents don’t always have to be about stopping someone from using your technology – in fact, it can often make far more sense to let others use your patent in return for a royalty. IBM is involved in continuous innovation, and patents prolifically. It openly licenses its innovations to competitors in return for royalty payments. It uses the royalty payments to fund new R&D, and this helps it lead the innovation race.
In my view, the advice given to Ms Walters, “that a patent is only as good as your ability to protect it’ is absolutely the wrong advice. Ninety percent of IP disputes never get anywhere near a court, and are resolved relatively quickly and without great expense. Frequently, a letter pointing out the infringer’s faux pas will do the trick, catching the infringer red handed. Without a patent, there’s no recourse - the competitor is entitled to copy your product without consequence.
You could even license the infringer to continue their activities in return for a royalty payment to you. The threat of court action means legal costs for the infringer, and the negative PR risk of being exposed as a rip off merchant. Without your patent protection, this deal would not be an option.
Ultimately, the opportunities that come with patenting innovation far outweigh the risks of going without.
Yours sincerely, Simon Rowell - Licensing Executives Society
Senate patently at odds over genes
1 October 2011 - The Australian
Not surprisingly, Carr's bill is backed by industry, including umbrella group the Licensing Executives Society of Australia and New Zealand. It favours enactment of the bill because it "includes the new exemptions that will operate to provide appropriate access to patented technologies".
Commercialisation of IP of critical importance
30 September 2011 - The Australian
The government's long-awaited intellectual property reforms have been held up as instrumental to creating a better environment for innovation. But they are peripheral to what universities are most in need of right now.
An alternative to the proposed Patent Amendment Bill 2010
20 September 2011 - Media Release
LESANZ's position paper and brief on the proposed Patent Amendment Bill 2010
"We dare you to fail"
1 August 2011 - Business Spectator
In an ideal world, a good idea would be recognised immediately and received the funding and support it needs to get off the ground....
more>>
"Licensing Executives Society welcomes news of much-needed IP Reform"
24 June 2011 - Press Release
The Licensing Executives Society of Australia & New Zealand (LESANZ) has welcomed this week’s announcement of the introduction to Parliament and expected passage of proposed reforms to Australia’s intellectual property system....
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"Our future depends on intellectual property"
20 June Australian Financial Review - Opinion Piece - page 28 - 2011
With the appointment of Don Russell as the new head of the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, it's time to talk about real change for Innovation in Australia.....
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"R&D Tax Credit will boost small biotechs"
17 June Australian Life Scientists - Online Piece - 2011
The long awaited R&D Tax Credit will give a crucial boost to small innovative Australian biotechnology companies, says Karen Sinclair.....
more>> or view link to website here
"R&D Tax Credit gets the Green light"
16 June BioTechnology News - June 2011
Australian biotech companies can become more innovative and globally competitive with the help of the R&D tax incentive announced yesterday.
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"What happens when the mining boom goes bust"
April Sydney Morning Herald, National Time, The Age, Brisbane Times websites - April 2011
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"Licensing key to future Australian innovation"
March 2011 - Australian R&D Review
The mining boom won't last forever. In an I article I wrote last year, I warned that Australia needed a long term plan to build other revenue streams that will support the economy........
"Innovation support a drop in the ocean"
Nov 2010 - Australian R&D Review Magazine
The resources sector has seen a lot of attention over the last year...
"Stalled R&D legislation stunts innovation"
Dec 2010 - Business Spectator Online
The stalling of R&D Tax Credit legislation has forced Australian companies into a holding pattern, says Mark Horsburgh, President-elect of LESANZ...
"Senate: keep the innovation ball rolling!"
Oct 2010 - Australian R&D Review Magazine
The stalling of R&D Tax Credit legislation has forced Australian companies into a holding pattern, says Mark Horsburgh, President-elect of LESANZ...
"Putting Science back on the political agenda"
July 2010 - Printed in NZ Lawyer
New Zealand needs a national IP Strategy to become internationally competitive, says Frik de Beer, a Trustee of LESANZ...
"Govt called on to form IP strategy"
May 2010 - Printed in the Independent Financial Review, NZ
A group of intellectual property professionals wants the Government to create a national intellectual property (IP) strategy to ensure the scientific community can contribute more to commercial innovation...
"Embracing Open Innovation"
March 2010 - Printed in the Australian R&D Review Magazine
The innovation landscape is ever-changing. A new corporate management approach, 'open innovation', reflects a growing trend for companies...
"Commercialisation Australia - the right step"
November 2009 - Printed in the Australian R&D Review Magazine
The Government's launch of its new Commercialisation Australia Funding body early next year...
The new research & development tax incentive - submission by LESANZ
26 October 2009 - Prepared on behalf of LESANZ by Jeff Bergmann - Trustee at Large
"Time to get smart about IP strategies"
22 September 2009 - Printed in the Australian Fianancial Review
As a nation, our understanding and development of IP rights is at best ad hoc. This stituation was highlighted by the recent visit of the director-general of the WIPO, Francis Gurry...
"The Great Patent Debate?"
26 August 2009 - audio interview with WA Regional Chair & 6PR Nightline
Local LESANZ Chair, Peter Caporn is interviewed on 6PR Nightline on the recent event in Perth. This interview also discusses Patents and IP in general. To listen to the interview, click on link below ....
"Sorely missed: a national IP stretegy?"
August 2009 - Australian R&D Review Opinion Piece
For local innovation to succeed in a global context individuals and governments must understand and acknowledge the importance of securing intellectual property (IP) rights....
"Need for innovation patently clear"
14 May 2009 - Australian Fianancial Review
Funding and regulartory hurdles are causing a worrying contraction in reaserah and development, writes Joanna Mather. Plans for a national commercialisation institute to take home-grown innovations to market and tax credits to boost business investment in research & development ...
for further details on this article - contact the Secretariat
Developing IP a key to recovery
March 2009
As business and consumer confidence continues to plummet, the outlook for innovation in 2009 is uncertain. Yet a commitment to innovation could in fact help Australia tackle the ecomonic challenges it's facing...
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Licensing Executives Society welcomes UWA appeal to clarify “Gray” area of IP commercialization
14 May 2008
The Licensing Executives Society of Australia and New Zealand (LESANZ) today welcomed the potential for greater clarity on the position of Australian universities in commercializing new technology. This follows the move by the University of Western Australia (UWA) to appeal the recent dismissal...
Emerging Australian Entrepreneurs Win International Business Competition
8 May 2008
Australian biotechnology company, EcoRegen has been selected as the inaugural Global Winner of the 2008 Licensing Executives Society (LES) Foundation Graduate Student Business Plan Competition in Chicago, USA.