A world-leading technology platform developed for IP Australia has received Australia’s most prestigious IT award.
IP Australia’s pilot project Smart Trade Mark which provides digital fingerprints for trade mark owners to prove the authenticity of their products, was chosen for the Australian Information Industry Association’s iAward for Public Sector and Government Innovation of the Year.
Director General of IP Australia, Michael Schwager (pictured) said winning a national industry award for the Smart Trade Mark project using blockchain was a great achievement for IP Australia and its partner, Canberra-based IT company, Agile Digital.
“Working with Agile Digital, IP Australia undertook a blockchain-backed project,” Mr Schwager said.
“The pilot focused on Australian trade mark owners and protection against counterfeiting in global marketplaces. The Smart Trade Mark pilot used blockchain to create a digital fingerprint for registered trade mark owners to establish product provenance.”
He said that backed by the findings from the Smart Trade Mark pilot, IP Australia was now developing a beta product which gave a unique digital stamp of an Australian trade mark.
“Using the blockchain fingerprint, IP Australia is giving customers the ability to create a unique seal for both digital and physical products,” Mr Schwager said.
IP Australia is the Government Agency that administers IP rights and legislation relating to patents, trade marks, designs and plant breeder’s rights.
It contributes to the innovation system more broadly by using its specialist skills and experience to assist businesses to make the most of their intellectual property and to provide advice to the Government.
