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Is a wine bin number inherently able to distinguish it as a trade mark? business business law business lawyer ip australia trade marks Sep 17, 2023

An application for registration of a trade mark can be refused by Intellectual Property Australia (IP Australia) for various reasons – including the trade mark not being capable of distinguishing the applicant’s designated goods and/or services from the goods and/or services of other...

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The tale of two women, two teenage dreams and one name - Katy Perry vs Katie Perry business federal court intellectual property trade marks May 03, 2023

As stated by Justice Markovic in his opening paragraph of the 21 April 2023 judgment:

"This is a tale of two women, two teenage dreams and one name."

Katie Taylor (nee Perry) - the Australian fashion designer

  • a fashion designer
  • designed and sold clothes under the name "Katie Perry" since...
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A franchisor’s duty to avoid misleading and deceptive conduct during pre-contract negotiations business business law franchises franchising code of conduct good faith misleading and deceptive conduct unconscionable conduct Apr 12, 2023

The franchising industry has been a vital part of the Australian economy, contributing significantly to employment and economic growth. According to 2022 figures, the franchising industry in Australia is estimated to be worth around $172 billion, with approximately 1,120 franchisors operating in...

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Providing accurate information when selling a business business business law business purchase business sale false or misleading representations misleading and deceptive conduct supreme court Dec 02, 2022

The concept of “misleading and deceptive conduct” doesn’t only arise in the context of consumer law, requiring a seller to ensure that it does not mislead or deceive, or engage in conduct which is likely to mislead or deceive, its consumers in relation to the product or service...

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Considerations when requesting a retail landlord's consent to assignment of the lease business landlord lease property retail lease retail leases act tenant Oct 11, 2022

 If you are a retail tenant, and you wish to sell your business (and assign your lease to the business purchaser), or for any other reason, you wish to assign or transfer your lease to another party, then depending on the terms of your lease, you may need to obtain the prior consent of the...

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10 things you may not know about unfair dismissal business business law employee rights employment law fair work act fair work commission unfair dismissal Sep 10, 2022
  1. The laws relating to unfair dismissal attempt to balance the needs of the business and the needs of employees, and establish procedures for dealing with unfair dismissal that are quick, flexible and informal, and address the needs of employers and employees. The aim is to ensure that a “...
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Standard form contracts - on your terms business business agreements business law business lawyer startup business unfair contracts Sep 07, 2022

Business to business contracts are often "standard form contracts", meaning that one party will have a pre-drafted the contract to make it easier and simpler (and often quicker) to provide the contract to the other party, such as contracts between a supplier and its customers. ...

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Signing on behalf of a company - be careful with personal guarantees business corporation guarantor Aug 17, 2022

If you’re a director of a company, you may very well have been asked to sign a personal guarantee, to guarantee the company’s obligations under a contract – for example, the payment of invoices to a supplier, or the payment of rent to a landlord.  Sometimes, the company and...

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Can a landlord recover unpaid components of rent even though the invoices were incorrect? business lease outgoings supreme court Mar 17, 2022

Commercial landlords should ensure that invoices issued to tenants for rent and outgoing amounts include:

  • the correct GST component
  • any rent increases that are entitled to be charged
  • all outgoings that are entitled to be charged.

The invoices should also be issued in a timely manner and in...

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Sexual harassment at work - now unlawful conduct business employee rights fair work act sex discrimination act sexual harassment unlawful conduct Jan 10, 2022

The “Respect at Work” legislation (Sex Discrimination and Fair Work (Respect at Work) Amendment Act 2021 (Cth)) took effect on 10 September 2021, focusing on sexual harassment in the workplace and extending compassionate leave entitlements to include miscarriage. The legislation...

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Silence and a handwritten amendment to a retail lease disclosure statement australian consumer law business disclosure statement landlord lease misleading and deceptive conduct nsw civil and administrative tribunal (ncat) property retail lease retail leases act tenant Aug 11, 2021

It is imperative for both landlords and tenants that whenever a retail lease is being negotiated, any required amendments to terms of the lease that remain to be negotiated are brought to the other party’s attention so that they can be negotiated, and the documents amended to...

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How to avoid director penalty notices australian taxation office (ato) business corporations act director penalty notice estimate notice Jan 05, 2021

If you are a director or former director of a company and the company does not meet its pay as you go (PAYG) withholding, goods and services tax (GST) or super guarantee charge (SGC) obligations, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) may recover those amounts from you...

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