The Federal Government has amended the scheme that regulates the release of genetically modified organisms into the environment in a manner that is commensurate with risk. However, proposals to ammend the Food Standards Code, if any, is pending subject to its review. ...

A recent Federal Court decision demonstrates the difficulties large offshore food and beverage brands may encounter when attempting to enter the Australian market, particularly where there is a longstanding local user of the same or a similar mark ...

Ransomware is big business as cyber criminals increasingly transition from a business model focused on the theft of data to one predicated on extortion Remarkably however the use of malicious software to elicit a financial benefit is not new with the first recorded outbreak of ransomware occurring ...

In late August 2017 the US Food and Drug Administration recalled 465000 Abbott Laboratories pacemakers due to cyber security vulnerabilities Although this was the first time that the FDA had recalled a medical device because of cyber concerns they have been alive to the significant risk that a cyber ...

As companies and regulators across the world grapple with ever-increasing cyber security threats, Australia's financial services regulator, APRA, has released the final form of a new prudential standard, which imposes heigtened security obligations for APRA-regulated entities ...

After a difficult journey both Houses have passed the Corporations Amendment Crowd-sourced Funding Bill 2016 - introducing a new funding avenue for Australian startups and an opportunity for retail investors to access equity in emerging companies ...

Security experts have been predicting for some time that as critical infrastructure networks become smarter more automated and more connected they will also become more vulnerable to cyber threats Reports last week of extensive attacks on critical infrastructure by hackers associated with the ...

The Australian Tax Office has released draft rulings stating their view that the digital currency Bitcoin is property and not money Partner Gavin Smith Associate David Rountree and Associate Tom Tian consider the potential consequences for Australian businesses using Bitcoin ...

CAMAC and the FSI have acknowledged that the current Australian regulatory settings are hostile to crowd sourced equity funding A recently released Treasury Discussion Paper has considered three options for law reform and what each might mean for the development of this innovative form of capital ...

The report, Benefits over backlash, explores a negative trend in consumer confidence in data use following high-profile scandals in the past 12 months. It urges organisations to move beyond the ...