The Department of Industry, Innovation and Science (DIIS) has launched a consultation process inviting Australia’s small business owners to share their experiences and needs relating to their trade secrets, new ideas, brands, copyrights and trade marks.
The Department said it had responded to the Productivity Commission’s inquiry into Australia’s IP arrangements, supporting the phasing out of the innovation patent and noting difficulties faced by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in accessing affordable enforcement.
It said it was committed to continue to further explore the overall needs of Australian SMEs in relation to exploiting their intellectual capital, and securing, utilising and enforcing their IP rights.
“We invite SMEs to tell us about how you manage and leverage your intellectual capital to meet your business objectives and what you need in order to meet these objectives,” the Department said.
“We wish to explore your understanding and experience of intellectual capital, and how it is generated, recorded, managed and exploited to maximise benefits to the business.”
It assured contributors that submissions it received would not be published and personal information obtained would be used and disclosed only for the purposes of the program.
Submissions can be made to the Department by post or email and close on 3 August.
