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Trans-Tasman IP Attorneys Board
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    • Benefits of registration
      • Right of practice
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    • Registration requirements
      • Registration requirements for patent attorneys and trade marks attorneys
      • Academic qualifications
      • Knowledge requirements
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    • Registration process
      • How to register as a patent attorney
      • How to register as a trade mark attorney
      • How to register as an incorporated attorney
      • Accredited courses
  • For registered attorneys
    For registered attorneys
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    • Managing your registration
      • Renewals
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      • Code of Conduct
    • Continuing professional education
      • Mandatory continuing professional education requirements
      • Timeframe for completing continuing professional education
      • Continuing professional education providers
      • Tips for meeting continuing professional education requirements
    • Dealing with complaints - for attorneys
      • Grounds for complaint
      • Disciplinary Tribunal
      • Appealing a Tribunal Decision
    • Practice notes
      • CPE Audits
      • Ownership of files
      • Copyright in Patent Specifications
  • For the public
    For the public
    Learn more
    • Complaints against an attorney
      • What you should know about the regulations
      • How to make a complaint
      • Hearings and decisions
      • Decisions of the tribunal
    • Disciplinary guidelines for registered attorneys
      • Commencing disciplinary proceedings
      • Confidentiality of informants
      • Offences
      • Requiring information from the attorney
      • The Board's decision on commencing proceedings
      • The investigation process
    • Disciplinary guidelines for incorporated attorneys
      • Basis for a cancellation or suspension application
      • Requiring information from the attorney
      • Commencing a cancellation or suspension application
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Trans Tasman IP Attorney Board

For the public

The Trans-Tasman IP Attorneys Board (TTIPAB) 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

TTIPAB - 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.


  • How are hearings conducted  
  • Appearing before the tribunal  

Tribunal findings

The tribunal has a number of options open to it in dealing with attorneys who have rulings made against them.


  • Tribunal findings  

Decisions of the Patent and Trade Marks Attorneys Disciplinary Tribunal

Recent decisions by the Disciplinary Tribunal


  • Tribunal decisions  
  • Disciplinary guidelines  

Making complaints against IP attorneys

Making complaints against attorneys – your rights

The TTIPAB 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 you should know about the regulations (the disciplinary regime)  
  • Grounds for complaints to the TTIPAB  
  • How to make a complaint  
  • What information you should provide  

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 TTIPAB to discuss the complaint.


  • Hearings and decisions  
  • How hearings are conducted  
  • Appearing before the tribunal  

Resources

Forms

  • Trade Marks Application for approval of Qualifications
  • Trade Marks Application for approval of Knowledge Requirements
  • Trade Marks Application for Registration
  • Patents Application for approval of Qualifications
  • Patents Application for approval of Knowledge Requirements
  • Patents Application for Registration
  • Incorporated Patents Application for Registration
  • Incorporated Trade Marks Application for Registration

Legislation

  • Patents Act 1990 (Cth)
  • Patents Regulations 1991 (Cth)
  • Patents Act 2013 (NZ)
  • Trade Marks Act 1995 (Cth)
  • Trade Marks Regulations 1995 (Cth)
  • Code of Conduct for Patent and Trade Marks Attorneys 2013
  • Code of Conduct for Trans-Tasman Patent and Trade Marks Attorneys 2018

FAQs

  • Why become incorporated?
  • Where is the form to register as an incorporated patent or trade marks attorney?
  • Why do I need to have insurance?
  • How much professional indemnity insurance do we need to incorporate?
  • About us
    • Who we are
    • Professional responsibilities
    • Board meetings
  • Become a registered attorney
    • Benefits of registration
    • Registration requirements
    • Registration process
  • For registered attorneys
    • Managing your registration
    • Continuing professional education (CPE)
    • Dealing with complaints - for attorneys
    • Practice notes
  • For the public
    • Making a complaint against an attorney
    • Disciplinary guidelines for registered attorneys
    • Disciplinary guidelines for incorporated attorneys
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