Katy Perry v Katie Perry Trade Mark Case (2026): What the High Court Decision Means for Your Brand
Can a global superstar lose the right to use her own name? In a landmark High Court of Australia decision in March 2026, that’s exactly what happened. In Taylor v Killer Queen LLC [2026] HCA 5, Australian fashion designer Katie Perry successfully defended her registered trade mark against international pop star Katy Perry—in a dispute […]
‘paulinehanson.com.au’ domain name directs users to refugee advocacy website – The importance of owning domain names related to your brand
The commercial significance of effective brand protection cannot be understated. Many businesses and celebrity personalities ensure that they protect their names, logos and other distinguishing brand elements. There are, however, some less obvious elements that can be easily overlooked – for instance, your domain name. If you do not take adequate steps to secure and […]
Changed your business during COVID? Here’s what you may not have considered with your IP.
We’re all adjusting to a new normal, with many businesses having re-opened following a year of bushfire, flood and of course, a pandemic. COVID-19 has undoubtedly been the biggest disrupter for businesses in 2020, generating upheaval and uncertainty with many forced to literally close their doors overnight due to lockdown restrictions. In order to continue […]
LEGO copycat penalised in Chinese Court
Copyright infringement isn’t child’s play, as one toy manufacturer recently discovered. Nine people were handed jail sentences by the Shanghai No.3 Intermediate People’s Court as China seeks to more strictly enforce intellectual property rights. If you’re manufacturing or distributing products in China, you should be aware of the copyright laws in place. Businesses who register […]
What happens when a brand name becomes part of everyday language?
Have you ever asked someone to “pass the Esky” when you want a drink from a cooler – even though it’s not actually branded as an Esky? Or perhaps you’ve asked a friend to give you a “Kleenex” when you need a tissue to blow your nose, even though it’s a supermarket homebrand product? Any […]
Will Hungry Jacks get flame-grilled in trade mark bun fight?
Protecting your brand through trade mark registration and timely opposition to the registration of trade marks that are substantially identical or deceptively similar to yours enables you to pre-empt situations such as this before they become a problem. The lesson to be learned from this McDonald’s v Hungry Jacks IP stoush is that proactive brand […]