For the public
The Professional Standards Board for Patent and Trade Marks Attorneys (PSB) is a statutory body responsible for upholding the standards and regimes required by all registered trade marks attorneys and patent attorneys working in Australia. It is responsible for investigating and prosecuting complaints against registered attorneys and can act on information from any source, including a complaint from a member of the public.
Find out more
The client attorney relationship
PSB - working with the public
Complaints about patent and trade marks attorneys are heard by the Patent and Trade Marks Attorneys Disciplinary Tribunal (the tribunal). The tribunal is established under the Patents Regulations 1991.
Tribunal findings
The tribunal has a number of options open to it in dealing with attorneys who have rulings made against them.
Decisions of the Patent and Trade Marks Attorneys Disciplinary Tribunal
Recent decisions by the Disciplinary Tribunal
Making complaints against IP attorneys
Making complaints against attorneys – your rights
The PSB can act on information from any source, including a complaint from a member of the public, alleging professional misconduct or unsatisfactory professional conduct by an attorney.
What happens next
If you have a grievance with an attorney, you should first attempt to settle the issue directly with the attorney concerned. If this fails, contact the Secretary to the PSB to discuss the complaint.
Resources
Forms
- Application for Registration as a Trade Marks Attorney
- Application for Registration as a Patent Attorney
- Application for Registration as an Incorporated Trade Marks Attorney
- Application for Registration as an Incorporated Patent Attorney
- Reg 20.7 Application for Trade Marks Knowledge Requirements
- Application for Knowledge Requirements for Patent Attorneys
- Application for Registration as a Patent Attorney (transitional)
- Application for Registration as a Trade Marks Attorney (transitional)