Change is Coming to Australian Parallel Importation law – What do you Need to Know?

Trade mark holders may need to reassess their commercial and international marketing strategies as the proposed amendments to the parallel importation provisions of the Trade Marks Act 1995 (Cth) (Act) take a step closer to enactment by the Australian Parliament.

The proposed amendments to the Act, contained in the draft Intellectual Property Laws Amendment (Productivity Commission response Part 1 and other measures) Bill (Draft Bill) will favour parallel importers in Australia.

To read more, click here for our Update.

Further reading:

• Draft Bill
• Draft Explanatory Memorandum
• IP Australia policy register – parallel importation of trade marked goods
• Productivity Commission Inquiry on Intellectual Property Arrangements 2015-16

By Chris Round and Olivia Coburn

Chris Round is the Asia Pacific and Africa Chair of the Parallel Imports Committee of the International Trademark Association, which made a submission to IP Australia on the Draft Bill.