How to Register an Australian Patent

An Australian patent is a legal protection bestowed upon a device, method or thing that is useful and inventive. A patent gives the owner the ability exclusively to market and sell the patented thing. A standard patent in Australia gives the owner protection for 20 years. As a trade-off for this high level of protection, the inventor must fully disclose the inner workings and mechanism of the invention to the public. Registering a patent in Australia requires you to fill out a few forms and provide a full description of the invention.

Instructions

1. Download and fill out a provisional application form from the Australian government's website. Write down your name, address, the title of your invention and any other required information. Print your name at the bottom and sign and date the form.

2. Write a provisional specification for your invention. This document should have your name and the title of the invention. Within the document, describe how the invention works and its purpose. Include alternative features or configurations in the provisional specification. Write the specification on only one side of standard size paper, with separate pages for drawings.

3. File the "provisional specification" and "provisional application" with the Australian government's website. Pay the fee of $80 Australian, as of 2010. You will have 12 months after the filing of your provisional application to file your full application.

4. Download and fill out a standard patent form. Sign and date the form. Create a complete specification document. The complete specification is a more complete version of the provisional specification. You must be specific enough to allow someone to reproduce your invention based on your directions. Discretely identify the claims you make regarding what your invention covers. Visit the Australian government's website regarding how to write claims.

5. Download and fill out a notice of entitlement form. Sign and date the form. File the notice of entitlement, complete specification document and standard patent form through the Australian government's website. Pay the $150 Australian filing fee, as of 2010.

Tips & Warnings

• You must make yearly $100 Australian dollar payments to the Australian government to maintain your patent.

References

• IP Australia: Filing an Application
• IP Australia: Patent Fees
• IP Australia: What is a Patent?

Resources

• IP Australia: Patent Forms and Publications