The IP Navigators’ Podcast with FB Rice

Rachel Hooke and Sarah Dixon get into the nitty gritty of the trade mark system and how to register a trade mark. Sarah tells us what makes a good trade mark, the advantages of traditional and non-traditional trade marks, and how to get maximum value from them. They discuss some of the common pitfalls in registering a trade mark and how to avoid these errors.

This episode was originally recorded in 2021 and reviewed for accuracy and relevance in July 2026.

Rachel Hooke interviews Kate Mahady, Partner and Head of the FB Rice Tax Consulting Team, to learn all about the government’s R&D Tax Incentive program. They investigate who can make a claim, what you can claim for, and how much you will get back. Kate shares key tips for ensuring your claim is compliant, documenting the necessary information and incorporating the required tracking into your business processes.

This episode was originally recorded in 2021 and reviewed for accuracy and relevance in July 2026.

Rachel Hooke and Eddie Walker look in detail at the patent system and how to obtain a patent. They explain what inventions are eligible to be patented, some common hazards in applying for a patent, and how to draft your patent specification to maximise success. They also cover important information such as how long the process takes and how long a patent lasts.

This episode was originally recorded in 2021 and reviewed for accuracy and relevance in July 2026.

Rachel Hooke and Eddie Walker consider how to decide in which countries to file a patent. As Rachel points out, a patent is a business tool and should be adding value to the business rather than being a sunk cost. Choosing wisely where to file a patent is crucial in making that patent work commercially. Key considerations include cost, ability to obtain and enforce patent rights, the need for exclusivity and return on investment.

Eddie Walker and Patrick McManamny talk about the concepts of patentability and infringement searching. Find out what these searches are along with why and when you should conduct one. Patrick talks about the different approaches you may take in searching, how to tailor a search to your needs and how to balance budget with efficacy.

Rachel Hooke and Declan McKeveney dive into the muddy waters of inventorship. They discuss the challenges of identifying inventorship when the concept of inventorship has no clear definition but instead relies on a large body of case law. Declan explains how to put in place internal processes to assist in identifying inventors and agreements and assignment documents to ensure ownership is correct and will stand up to future due diligence.

Eddie Walker talks to experts Stuart Campbell and Beata Khaidurova about Registered Designs: what designs can be registered and what are the benefits? Beata and Stuart explain the registration process and provide some hot tips on avoiding common pitfalls and maximising the value of your registered design.

Eddie Walker interviews Sylvan Browne to uncover this challenging area of intellectual property law. Sylvan explains what patent examiners are interested in when deciding whether to grant a patent for a software or computer implemented invention, and goes through the steps that you can take to put yourself in the best position to successfully obtain a software patent.

This episode was originally recorded in 2021 and reviewed for accuracy in July 2026. Please note that there have been changes to Australian law affecting the patenting of software since the time of recording.

For more recent commentary on the impact of the Aristocrat case, please see our IP News & Insights article: No second look: High Court refusal signals stability for computer-implemented inventions