Commercial launch IP contingencies against copyists

PRODUCT LAUNCH

Product launch is a critical IP milestone

Commercial launch without IP means donating your creative efforts to the public domain.
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Article
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September 15, 2025
Product launch checklist: patenting strategy
Launching a new product? A structured approach to deciding whether to patent, keep a trade secret or publish defensively before you go to market.
Commercial launch IP

Commercial launch IP

The imperative of commercial launch IP is to ensure the revenue and reputation associated with your soon-to-launch product is protected. Patents protect core engineering function, registered designs protect visual design elements, and registered trade marks protect branding.
Technological innovation is protected by patents
Patents
Patents
Patents protect new inventions, with up to 20 years of exclusivity in exchange for publishing how the technology operates.
Product design is protected by registered designs
Designs
Registered designs
Registered designs protect new product designs in terms of visual appearance the product's shape and configuration.
Branding is protected by registered trade marks
Trade marks
Registered trade marks
Registered trade marks grant exclusive rights for your branding in connection with goods or services you offer to the market.
EXPERTISE

Founders come to us at four key moments

Each moment calls for a conversation and a decision. We map the moment to the right strategy. And tell you plainly where protection adds nothing.
Laptop computer showing graphical dashboard on a home office desk
IP priorities over the commercial lifecycle
Article
01
You are building something valuable and are about to launch
Pre-disclosure strategy, freedom-to-operate, and a filing approach that survives technical diligence later.
COMMERCIAL LAUNCH IP
02
You are raising and the term sheet hinges on the IP holding
A venture-ready audit that turns "patents pending" into a position an investor's counsel can verify.
VENTURE-READY IP
03
You are acquiring, being acquired, or licensing technology
Diligence that interrogates ownership and validity, not just the paperwork most data rooms accept.
EXIT-WORTHY IP
04
You are stopping someone copying your product or your brand
Coordinated enforcement across patents, designs and registered trade marks that is proportionate and quick.
litigation-grade IP
COMMERCIAL LAUNCH IP FAQ
Your questions, answered with clarity
Do I need to file my patent application before publishing or launching?
How should I prioritise IP investment when resources in my startup are constrained?
What are the IP risks in engaging freelance contractors and offshore development partners?
I have been showing the product to investors or customers, have I already destroyed my patent rights?
Should I trade mark my brand name before or after I launch?
Do I need a registered design as well as a patent?
Does copyright protect me?
How much can I say publicly—pitch decks, demos and press—without losing my rights?
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A boutique IP practice for software-first founders and the investors who fund them.
BALLARAT · MELBOURNE · SYDNEY · BRISBANE
EXPERTISE
Software patentsStartup IP strategyPortfolio building
OVERSEAS ASSOCIATES
Australian patent procedureAustralian design procedureAustralian trade mark procedure
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