Legal

How do you protect your business from the almost endless list of disputes that can land you in court and can destroy your business? Matthew Hourn reports.  In today’s litigious society, for small to medium enterprises (SMEs) even the smallest disputes, whether with competitors or consumers, can be potentially fatal to your business. As an […]

Intellectual property is the core of many businesses these days. But what exactly is IP, and how can you identify, protect, and maximise its value? Tony Ward looks at these issues and the crucial aspect of timing—when it is too late or too early to protect intellectual property. Intellectual property (IP) is an umbrella term […]

Employee share ownership plans are no longer reserved just for large, publicly listed companies. As Rebecca Spicer discovers, they can be a useful tool for any business wanting to attract, retain and motivate staff. It’s no secret that the skills shortage is crippling many industries. And so, tools and strategies that attract and keep key […]

How do you protect your intellectual property (I.P.) overseas, particularly in those countries with no formal protection systems? Catherine Logan leads us through the maze of what is covered where, what is not, where you can find help to choose the best approach when exporting, and who can help when your I.P. is infringed in […]

It’s easy to get carried away in the excitement of merging, selling or acquiring a business. But, as Carlo Pasqualini warns, if you don’t do your homework before mergers and acquisitions you probably won’t realise expectations and the deal might even be disastrous. Every day it seems there’s a new corporate takeover with media headlines […]

All the links you're likely to need when considering your legal obligations IP Australia IP Australia provides and administers intellectual property rights within Australia. The agency regulates patents, trade marks, designs, plant breeder’s rights and copyrights and provides a wealth of information on the importance of intellectual property for your business. Lawlink New South Wales […]

What is the perfect structure for your business? Peter Bembrick outlines the advantages and disadvantages for each of the main types of business structure. Identifying the best structure for your business from the start can help avoid the cost and difficulties of changing it later. There are a number of considerations when deciding on the […]

When it comes to protecting your intellectual property, starting with your business name, Michael Sutton discovers SMEs aren’t as well protected as they think. If you believe registering your business name will stop other businesses using the same name, you’re not alone. According to last years’ Registered Business Names Survey, conducted by IP Australia and […]

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Fraud is expensive, and can ruin a business. Matthew Gardiner looks at the danger areas, examines the case of a trusted employee milking a small business of thousands, and outlines checking systems that can be put in place to protect a business. All businesses, large and small, run the risk of losing both revenue and […]

When considering distribution options for export, licensing agreements can be a less risky and more affordable option to take your brand global. Rebecca Spicer takes a look at what’s involved and talks to exporters who are using licensing to their advantage. Licensing can be an effective channel to export, especially for first-timers and SMBs in […]

The internet is not a lawless territory where anything goes. An online business is subject to the same regulations as any other model, and there are pitfalls particular to this relatively new and constantly changing environment. Michael Sutton sets out regulation guidelines for developing and operating an online site so it won’t fall foul of […]

How is O.H.S. affected in the new national I.R. system? Alyson Warnock looks at how changes will impact on the Occupational Health and Safety of small and medium businesses around the country. The Workplace Relations Amendment (WorkChoices) Act 2005 became law on March 27, 2006. This legislation was designed to create a single national IR […]

When it comes to protecting your intellectual property, starting with your business name, Michael Sutton discovers SMEs aren’t as well protected as they think. If you believe registering your business name will stop other businesses using the same name, you’re not alone. According to last years’ Registered Business Names Survey, conducted by IP Australia and […]

Export of legal services now earns more than $120 million a year for Australia. What chance do our smaller practices have of benefiting from exporting legal services? Joe Parkes investigates. Exporting legal services can be a highly profitable professional pursuit, especially if you have one of the handful of legal practices that control a significant […]

Privacy is a legal issue, but when it comes to collecting and using customer information it is also a relationship issue – Adrian Sim and Chian Kee explain the privacy obligations of small businesses using customer information. Many businesses compile databases of customer information. In general, tools such as customer relationship management (CRM) software and […]

A one-size-fits-all approach to insurance could be disastrous for your business – Terry Brain explores the danger areas and insurance policies that can be tailored to your business needs. One of the biggest challenges for small business owners is ensuring that their business is protected. The easiest and most common way to do this is to […]

Kerry Ryan and Maija Kerry outline crucial legal issues involved in establishing a franchising agreement, and making the business work for all parties. Australia is often referred to as the franchise capital of the world, with an estimated three times more franchised units per capita than the United States. The results of the Franchising Australia […]