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Dow AgroScience pest control patent lacks inventive step, IP Australia says
IP Australia has rejected Dow AgriCulture's bid to patent a smart pest control device, saying the invention lacks an inventive step.
Judge orders release of emails by lawyer who told ex-Secure Logic exec to destroy computer files
A judge has ruled that a former executive of cyber security firm Secure Logic Group, who took advice from a lawyer to destroy the contents of a personal computer that allegedly contained confidential infomation from the company, has waived legal professional privilege over the communication.
Judge approves walkaway settlement in St Patrick’s Day bushfire class action
A judge has signed off on the walkaway settlement reached in one of four St Patrick’s Day bushfire class actions filed by Maddens Lawyers, noting that the plaintiff faced a “very real risk of not succeeding” in some of its primary claims.
Unilever drops appeal over Nivea deodorant claims
Consumer giant Unilever has dropped its challenge to a ruling that found competitor Beiersdorf did not make misleading claims about its Nivea clinical strength deodorant products.
ABC, Fairfax can’t revive truth defence in Chau Chak Wing defamation case
The ABC and Fairfax have lost their appeal seeking to revive a truth defense in a defamation case brought by Chinese businessman Dr Chau Chak Wing over a Four Corners program accusing him of espionage and links to the Chinese Communist Party.
Moreton wins appeal over R&D tax credits for failed coal gasification project
Australian coal miner Moreton Resources has won a Full Federal Court appeal over tax offsets it claims are owed over a failed pilot project testing underground coal gasification, a process which was ultimately banned in Queensland.
Landmark offers to shed stores to win ACCC blessing for $469M Ruralco takeover
Rural supply giant Landmark's has offered to sell three stores to win Australian Competition and Consumer Commission approval for its proposed $469 million takeover of competitor Ruralco, a move that would consolidate two of the three largest players in the rural merchandise market.
Judge discontinues Queensland legal fees class action
A judge has discontinued a class action brought against a Queensland law firm over allegedly non-compliant conditional costs agreements, after finding no evidence that anyone other than the lead plaintiff was interested in bringing a claim.
‘Sigh’: Judge inadvertently sends email to applicant, and reveals he’s human
A Federal Court judge has admitted he insulted an applicant in a case against the Commonwealth when he inadvertently sent her an email meant for his associate, in which he sarcastically used the word "sigh" in response to the applicant advising the court of her hospitalisation.
Caterpillar pounces on Puma’s ‘procat’ trade mark
A catfight has broken out between construction equipment and workwear maker Caterpillar and sneaker giant Puma, with Caterpillar arguing Puma's 'procat' trade mark is deceptively similar to its 'cat' marks.