Farewell to Dr Peter Stearne (May 28, 1960 - June 19, 2007) - Friday, June 29, 2007
We are saddened this month to say goodbye to Peter Stearne who passed away on 19 June after a battle with motor neurone disease.

Peter joined DCC fresh from University of Melbourne on 31 October 1984. Peter’s doctoral thesis was titled “Studies on the Murine Transferrin Receptor and the Plasma Cell Antigen PC-1” and his work on that thesis was conducted at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute. Peter graduated as a patent attorney in 1988 and became a partner of the firm on 1 July 1992.

Peter contributed to the writing of the LAWS OF AUSTRALIA by authoring the chapter on Plant Breeders Rights. He also co-authored a chapter on Australia in WORLDWIDE PHARMACEUTICAL LAW GUIDE.

In the course of his career at Davies Collison Cave, Peter drafted and prosecuted many significant patents. Amongst the more commercially significant were human relaxin patents for Howard Florey Institute and human rotavirus cases for University of Melbourne. He also drafted and prosecuted patents relating to isoflavones as health supplements (e.g. treatment and prevention of menopausal symptoms and osteoporosis) for Novogen and worked on extended wear contact lens patents for CSIRO and Ciba Vision.

He was involved in numerous patent oppositions and litigious matters such as Viagra, the titanium dioxide case, SEC and DUT and various matters for Boehringer Ingelheim, Bayer, Schering and Novartis. Peter was also a regular speaker at numerous conferences at venues throughout the world.

Peter passed away peacefully in the presence of his family on 19 June 2007. The attendance at his funeral on 25 June 2007 was exceptionally high and those in attendance included not only many of his partners and colleagues at Davies Collison Cave but numerous representatives of the patent attorney profession throughout Australia.

Peter will be greatly missed by all at DCC, the wider profession and his friends and family. We express our deepest sympathies to his wife Caroline and to his children, Courtney, David and Ellen.

2006-2007 PCT Wheel now available - Wednesday, February 21, 2007
The PCT wheel allows you to determine the National Phase entry dates and other PCT dates by simply selecting a single first filing date. Devised and designed by Davies Collison Cave and approved by WIPO, the wheel provides a simple way to check due dates for priority document, filing demand and entering national/regional phase at 20 or 30 months from a chosen priority date.

If you would like to order the 2006-2007 PCT wheel, please click here.

AIPPI prize winner - Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Congratulations to Chris Carter, an Associate in our patents group, for winning the 2006 International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI) Prize. The AIPPI prize is open to people under 35 and entails writing a 1500-2000 word paper on any topic relating to Intellectual Property Issues. Chris' chosen topic was Business Method Patents In Australia After Grant v Commissioner of Patents: 'Physical Effect' - New Law or Clarified Law?

Chris primarily provides advice concerning products in the fields of information and communication technology, e-commerce, micro and nanotechnology, business methods, physics, electronics, medical devices and mechanical devices.

As part of his prize Chris will now head off to Gothenberg to attend the AIPPI Congress in October.

In addition, congratulations to Susanne Hantos and Simon Reynolds, both of our patents group, on their submission for the AIPPI prize. Susanne's article was on The Impact of Article 17.9.13 of the Australian-United States Free Trade Agreement on the Requirement of Patent Usefulness in Australia. Simon's was titled Should Australian patents only be granted to inventions that add to the economic wealth of Australia or otherwise benefit Australian society as a whole?

100 years since we registered the first Australian trade mark - Friday, June 30, 2006
On July 2, 100 years ago the first Federal Trade Mark application was filed at the Melbourne branch of the Australian Trade Mark Office. The application was filed by Daisy Williams, an employee of the firm known today as Davies Collison Cave.

Daisy was so determined that the firm should have the first registered trade mark in Australia that she camped out at the trade marks office so that on 2 July 1906 she could file the first trade mark when the Office opened. Daisy stayed on as a permanent employee of the firm until her retirement 1958.

This commitment to the field of trade marks has continued over the last century. Today Davies Collison Cave is recognised both locally and internationally as the leading intellectual property practice in Australia.

Appointment Announcements - Friday, June 30, 2006
The partners of Davies Collison Cave and Davies Collison Cave Solicitors are pleased to announce the following appointments effective 1 July, 2006.

Davies Collison Cave
Senior Associate

Ross Heisey
B.Sc. (Hons.), Ph.D., C.Chem, Patent Attorney

Associates

Jane Hutchison
B.Sc. (Hons.), Ph.D., Patent Attorney

Mathew Lucas
B.Sc. (Hons.), Ph.D., Patent Attorney

Davies Collison Cave Solicitors
Senior Associates

Joy Atacador
B.A., LL.B.

Elizabeth Godfrey
B.A., B.Sc. (Hons.), LL.B. (Hons.)

Davies Collison Cave wins the ALB "IP Specialist Firm of the Year" award - Friday, April 07, 2006
Davies Collison Cave are proud to announce that we have been awarded "IP Specialist Firm of the Year" for 2006 in the annual Australasian Law Awards.

The awards are organised by the Australian Legal Business Magazine and recognise outstanding professional achievement and the best legal work of the year.

Davies Collison Cave is honoured to win the award.

Appointment Announcement - Wednesday, April 05, 2006
Davies Collison Cave is pleased to announce the appointment of a new partner to the Sydney office to complement our strong biotechnology practice. Gavin Recchia will be joining us from 24 April 2006.

Gavin specialises in biotechnology patents, with industry experience across the fields of molecular biology, genetics and microbiology.

His previous experience has included stints at the CSIRO Division of Biomolecular Engineering and at biomedical research centres in Norway and Japan. Gavin is also the recipient of a prestigious CJ Martin postdoctoral research fellowship, which he completed in the Department of Biochemistry at Oxford University.

Gavin has lectured and tutored students in molecular biology, biochemistry and genetics, both at Oxford University and in Sydney, and is the author of more than 15 refereed research papers in international journals. He has won numerous awards for his research, including the inaugural Australian Society for Microbiology Research Trust Award.

We are delighted to welcome Gavin to DCC and look forward working with him. We are sure he will compliment our highly successful team.

DCC wins Australian Intellectual Property Firm of the Year - Sunday, April 02, 2006
At the inaugural Managing Intellectual Property Global awards ceremony held in London on 29 March 2006, DCC won the Intellectual Property Firm of the year by the leading UK journal Managing Intellectual Property.

DCC sponsors Engineers Australia (Sydney) Fellows' Luncheon - Monday, March 20, 2006
On the 16 March 2006, Davies Collison Cave sponsored the Engineers Australia (Sydney division) Fellows' Luncheon at Parliament House, Sydney.

Dr Chris Nicol, the 2005 Engineering Excellence Awards Entrepreneur of the Year and Founder & Managing Director of Agere Systems Australia, presented a brief background on his organisation and the importance of protecting your intellectual property through Patents.

DCC is pleased to support Engineers Australia (Sydney division). Pictured left to right is Anthony Cowle (Partner, DCC), Dr Chris Nicol (Managing Director Agere Systems), Amal Hanna (President, Engineers Australia Sydney division) and Tony Smeeton (Partner, DCC).

DCC rated as the number one patent attorney firm in the country - Thursday, March 02, 2006
In the 2006 Chambers Global worlds leading lawyers for business DCC was rated as "the number one patent attorney firm in the country". Richard Jarvis was mentioned for his pharmaceutical, biotechnological and chemical patent litigation. Richard was described as being "held in high regard by his peers".

DCC sponsors the Engineers Australia (Sydney Division) Excellence Awards 2006 "Innovations and Inventions" Award - Friday, February 24, 2006
Davies Collison Cave is pleased to sponsor the Engineers Australia Sydney Division "Innovation and Inventions" Excellence Award for 2006. DCC has been a proud sponsor of this Award since 2000.

The Awards encourage excellence, both in the community and engineering profession, through the identification, acknowledgment, reward and promotion for outstanding accomplishments in the advancement of the science and practice of engineering.

The 2006 Awards are now open for entry. The critical dates are:
7 April 2006: Level 1 entries close
21 April 2006: Judges Review of Level 1 entires
23 June 2006: Level 2 (finalists) entries close
July - August 2006: Level 2 Judging
22 September 2006: Winners announced at the 2006 Engineering Excellence Awards Ceremony (Sydney)

For more information about the awards please click here or contact Robyn Worthing on 02) 8923 7112

The 2005-2006 PCT wheel is now available - Thursday, December 01, 2005
The PCT/Euro wheel allows you to determine the National Phase entry dates and other PCT dates by simply selecting a single first filing date. Devised and designed by Davies Collison Cave and approved by WIPO, the wheel provides a simple way to check due dates for priority document, filing demand and entering national/regional phase at 20 or 30 months from a chosen priority date.

For those of your who regularly receive the PCT wheel or have recently ordered a wheel we will be mailing them out to you in December 2005. If you would like to order the 2005-2006 PCT wheel please follow this link PCT wheel order form

International praise for DCC's strong IP team - Wednesday, November 30, 2005
DCC attracted more praise than any other IP Firm for the quality of our staff in the 2005 World IP Handbook published by Managing Intellectual Property. We were also lauded for our "excellent reputation for both filing and litigation".

Many of our staff received special mentions including Richard Jarvis for patent litigation, Rodney De Boos for technical licensing issues and Darron Saltzman for his work on the successful appeal of the Registrar's refusal to register the green colour used by BP as a trade mark.

From our patent team Peter Stearne, Mark Roberts, Michael Caine and John Hughes were mentioned for non-contentious patent work. David Webber also received a mention for advice on IT and telecoms, and from our trade marks team Christine Lowe was rated for non-contentious work.

We pride ourselves on the expertise of our exceptional staff many of whom are considered leaders in their field. We would like to congratulate our team on the special mentions that they received in this years World IP Handbook.

Trevor Stevens: Australia's leading trade marks lawyer - Wednesday, September 28, 2005
We are pleased to announce that Trevor Stevens, the senior partner of our Sydney office was recently nominated by his clients and peers as Australia's leading lawyer for trade marks expertise, by the International Who's Who of Trade mark Lawyers. Trevor specialises in trade mark opposition proceedings.

The accolade comes from six months of independent research by Who's Who that incorporated feedback from lawyers and in-house counsel in 60 jurisdictions. The partners and staff of DCC would like to congratulate Trevor on this acknowledgment of his expertise in the field of trade marks.

National Engineering Week 2005 - Tuesday, August 16, 2005
13 - 21 August is National Engineering Week 2005, this annual event provides a unique opportunity to promote the achievements of all aspects of engineering endeavour.

Davies Collison Cave is a proud supporter of Engineering Week as is the major sponsor of the Chartered Engineers Breakfast being held this Thursday 18 August.

The Harricks Address is premier event of the 2005 National Engineering Week and was held last night. This year's Address was presented by Anthony Cowle (Partner, Davies Collison Cave). His presentation was entitled "Intellectual Property: a key to Engineering growth" and discussed issues such as the need for Engineers to recognise and manage intellectual property effectively as well as providing practical tips on how to implement this.

A copy of Anthony's presentation as well as more information regarding events during Engineering Week can be found on the Engineers Australia (Sydney division) website.

Click here to visit Engineers Australia (Sydney division) website

Release of geographic domain names in .com.au and .net.au - Tuesday, July 26, 2005
auDA, the regulator of the Australian Domain Name System, have recently decided to lift the restriction on the registration of geographic names in the au domain name space.

A "geographic name" is defined as any location with an Australian postcode or as listed on the Australia Post postcode database.

The eligibility criteria will be the same for a normal .com.au and .net.au domain names. If the geographic name forms part of your company or business name, or if you can demonstrate a close and substantial connection with the name (for example if your business is located in the relevant geographic area) then you will be eligible to submit an application for that geographic name.

Where more than one application is made for a geographic domain name, the successful registrant will be chosen by way of a random ballot. The ballot will be drawn on 31 July 2005. However, only one application for a geographic domain name is allowed per applicant. If an applicant lodges more than one application, then this will invalidate all applications by that applicant. Where only one eligible application is received for a name, that applicant will be successful in obtaining the domain name.

Successful applicants will be required to pay a fee to auDA of $825 to release the domain name, as well as the normal domain name registration costs.

If you would like to submit an application for a geographic domain name, or would like further advice, please contact Michael Wolnizer as soon as possible.

Michael Wolnizer
Partner
Davies Collison Cave
Telephone + 61 3 9254 2777

DCC tops the Who's Who of International Patent Lawyers - Friday, July 22, 2005
In the recent announcement of the International Who's Who of Patent Lawyers, produced by Who's Who Legal, Davies Collison Cave was named as one of Australia's dominant firms in the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights.

The announcement recognises Des Ryan a Senior Consultant to Davies Collison Cave, as an individual of note within the industry. Who's Who of Patent Lawyers states "Des Ryan of Davies Collison Cave is 'everybody's all-star - the best' ".

Davies Collison Cave is Australia's number 1 patent and trade mark firm - Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Managing Intellectual Property has released the results of their 2004 World IP Survey and we are pleased to have been awarded the top position. Davies Collison Cave has been voted Australia's premier patent and trademark firm by our industry peers for eight of the last nine years. More than 4,000 intellectual property specialists worldwide were invited to vote. Each individual was asked to nominate three leading patents firms in all jurisdictions. Managing Intellectual Property's team of researchers then sought further feedback from specialists in each jurisdiction. The research involved in-depth feedback from more than 700 practitioners.

Business Success - Thursday, June 23, 2005
Ray Hind, a senior partner in our engineering group, recently appeared on Channel Nine's Business Success show. As one of the business success team of experts, Ray advised Rick Carlei on how to patent his invention in order to succesfully get it into the market place.

Click here to view a summary of the advice given on Channel Nine's Business Success show