Consumers and investors are increasingly conscious of climate change risks, and more demanding of businesses to adopt sustainable business practices. This has led to an increase in 'green marketing', which includes statements about environmental sustainability, carbon neutrality, recycling or impact ...

Very few areas of law are more changeable and subject to the political tides as climate change law. A range of Federal and State regulatory schemes and policies relating to greenhouse emissions have been implemented in recent years, some economy-wide and some industry-specific, and some more permane ...

The Full Court in Rokt Pte Ltd v Commissioner of Patents [2018] FCA 1988 reversed the decision of the trial judge, finding for the Commissioner of Patents that Rokt's digital advertising systems and methods invention does not constitute patentable subject matter. The decision further clarifies the patentability of computer-implemented inventions at Australian law. ...

In the recently released Technology Investment Roadmap Discussion Paper, the Federal Government puts forward a proposed framework to govern the investment of public funds in the development of new technologies designed to lower emissions. ...

We said at the outset of this pandemic that financial advice will play an important role in supporting members who are considering whether to access their super early. Alive to that, ASIC recently released a series of measures to facilitate access to financial advice ...

The decision in ACCC v Kimberly-Clark Australia identifies pleading and evidentiary issues in the ACCC's case, and provides useful guidance for companies about how courts will interpret product representations and what will be considered the relevant 'context' of representations made in marketing ...

Allens has advocated for reform to the class action regime for many years, including by way of submissions to inquiries conducted by the Australian Law Reform Commission and the Victorian Law Reform Commission. We have made a detailed submission to the current inquiry in which we outline our concerns regarding the increasingly entrepreneurial direction of Australia's class action landscape and advocate for (and against) various reforms. ...

In COVID-19 news, the authorisation permitting insurers to coordinate on temporary relief measures is being proposed to be extended; and the ACCC has imposed further conditions on coordination between health insurers. Elsewhere, the ACCC has rejected a proposal to set minimum advertised prices for Dewalt power tools, declaring any public benefit was outweighed by the potential consumer detriments. The Federal Court has declined to make declaration that Quantum Housing engaged in unconscionable conduct; and also found in favour of Kimberly-Clark Australia by dismissing the ACCC's appeal regarding Kleenex flushable wipes. Finally, the ACCC has raised concerns with Google's proposed acquisition of Fitbit; and also stated that Caravanning Queensland's proposed 'loyalty program' may raise competition concerns. ...

No COVID-19 related trade marks have yet been registered in Australia; however, several applications are pending, and at least one mark containing the word COVID has been accepted for registration. ...

WIPO PROOF - WIPO's new service can be used to prove the existence and contents of a digital file at a given time. ...