News
Coca-Cola’s virtual goods and opposing trade mark applications for use in the metaverse
In the World Intellectual Property Organisation’s magazine published in March 2022, an article entitled “trademarks in the metaverse (written by Kathryn Park of Strategic Trademark Initiatives) describes the metaverse as, “a virtual …
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The HeLa cells controversy: settlement of unjust enrichment litigation
Last week, the living relatives of Henrietta Lacks reached a settlement in the litigation with the biotechnology company, Thermo Fisher Scientific. The proceedings, commenced in the District Court of Baltimore, centred on …
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Politicians and their trade marks: a brief look at Clive Palmer’s and Donald Trump’s problematic Australian trade mark registrations
This article looks at two Australian trade mark registrations, one for “CLIVE PALMER” (owned by Mr Palmer’s company Minerology Pty Ltd) and one for “TRUMP” owned by Donald J Trump). Mining magnate, …
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Die Hard and John MacLane’s destiny – how movie titles function as trade marks
It is not really Christmas, until Hans Gruber falls from Nakatomi Plaza, and that festive sentiment seems to have led to this pending Australian trade mark application for “A Very Die Hard …
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Trade marks and NFTs – what luxury brands have learned from “MetaBirkin”
World famous car manufacturer Ferrari has filed a series of Australian trade mark applications for, amongst other things, virtual goods. Here is a partial extract of one of these, featuring Ferrari’s highly …
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What does the Government’s Response to the Quality of Financial Advice Review Mean for the Financial Services Industry?
A year-long inquiry into the quality of advice was ordered by the previous Coalition government after around 10,000 professional advisers quit the industry, increasing the median price of advice by 40% to …
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Multi-Enterprise Agreements
A number of amendments made to the Fair Work Act by the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Secure Jobs Better Pay) Act 2022 affecting enterprise agreements came in to effect on 6 June …
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Submission on the Communications Legislation Amendment (Combatting Misinformation and Disinformation) Bill 2023 Exposure Draft
Summary As Bennett regularly acts for clients who are aggrieved by internet content, we are acutely aware of the harm and damage that can be caused by the spread of false and …
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Politicians, qualified privilege and the right of reply
The media often decries the severity of Australia’s defamation laws and the difficulties that media defendants face, particularly in conducting ‘public interest journalism’ and criticising figures in power. Yet quite often it …
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Running into Binance problems – The recent crackdown on cryptocurrency exchanges
Despite waning media interest, and unstable market values, cryptocurrency remains a fascinating concept for some and a diehard obsession for others. Major financial institutions in the United States continue to plan new …
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