We are a Melbourne-based patent attorney firm focused on engineering innovation. In addition to our legal training and experience, we have mechanical engineering training and experience.
We have the engineering skills to work efficiently and make it easy for you; the skills to quickly understand your invention and prepare a quality patent application for it; and the skills to provide simple, practical advice without the legalese.
We understand that IP is only part of a much bigger project plan and that it is important to be contactable, responsive and timely. We understand that budgets are important and clearly foreshadow costs so there are no surprises
We treat each patent application as if it’s our own and pride ourselves on securing strong patents that cover all that they should. See Examples of our patents.
We are efficient and easy to work with. Direct access to experienced professionals, practical advice and clear communication are hallmarks of the BRM experience.
We start every engagement with a detailed discussion of the overall patent process and the applicable costs without charge. Every step of the way, we remind clients where they are up to in the process and outline any further steps relevant to the decisions at hand.
We have rapid turnaround times and an enviable record of dependability. Our robust business systems, quality-focused culture and experienced professionals ensure professional service.
We are not jacks of all trades. We provide premium patent attorney services and maintain relationships with trade mark attorneys, lawyers and barristers with whom we often work closely to provide our clients with the best possible expertise and a great customer experience.
We conduct due diligence to avoid investment in patents that won’t succeed. We ensure our clients know what their patents cover, and if we doubt the value of that coverage we aren’t shy to say so. We use the patent system creatively and highlight cost-saving options.
Together we have well over a century of experience in Intellectual Property. Our experience coupled with our outstanding academic performance, top-tier training, and genuine enthusiasm for continuing professional development ensure our clients are served by experts in their fields.
With engineering qualifications and practical experience in engineering, we can quickly understand your invention, talk in practical terms and efficiently prepare quality patents. More on our engineering expertise.
Unlike the vast majority of Australian patent attorneys, we remain proudly independent. You can be confident that we’re not in league with a sister company working for your competitor.
We prefer to start with a detailed discussion without charge so that we can provide preliminary comment on the prospects of success and map out the steps ahead and the applicable costs. Please contact us when you’re ready.
Ben has been great to deal with, understands how to communicate clearly in terminology that a layman can grasp. Works to a timetable and keeps the commercial aspects of IP in focus.
A patent is a type of intellectual property that is issued by a government and gives its owner the right to stop others making, using, selling and importing versions of a new product and/or process.
Generally, patents are granted country by country but the patent rights can be broken up along different geographic boundaries – e.g. if you are an engineering company based in Melbourne, you might keep the Victorian market to yourself and permit others to manufacture your invention in the other states in return for royalty payments.
Further reading: Patents
Twenty years is the standard patent term in Australia, the US and most other countries, for most types of inventions (e.g. a mechanical engineering solution to an existing problem). The 20-year term is usually calculated from the filing date of the first non-provisional patent, so an additional 12 months of protection can be secured by filing a provisional patent application.
Further reading: How long does a patent last?
Securing an Australian patent for a mechanical invention often costs about $17,000 + GST over about four or five years. International strategies often cost about $100,000 + GST over the first four years, e.g. if you aim to cover several individual countries plus Europe as a region.
Further reading: How much does a patent cost?
Patent attorneys secure and advise on the coverage of patents. They have a combination of technical (e.g. mechanical engineering) and legal qualifications, but are typically not lawyers – registration as a patent attorney is a separate, less common qualification. There are about 1,100 registered patent attorneys spread across Australia and New Zealand, whereas according to Engineers Australia, as at 2021 there were over 545,000 qualified engineers in Australia, with approximately 433,000 in the labour force.
Further reading: Patent Lawyer v Patent Attorney
Most Australian patent attorneys will start with a free-of-charge discussion, then charge in the range of $400 to $1,100 + GST per hour plus fixed charges for certain administrative actions. Melbourne patent attorney rates are often closer to the upper end of the range.
Further reading: How much does a patent attorney cost?
The process often starts with a provisional patent application followed by one or more non-provisional patent application(s) about 12 months later. The non-provisional application(s) will then be examined to check that the invention qualifies. A patent is usually granted shortly after an application passes examination.
Further reading: How to patent an idea
If you believe that your patent is being infringed, it is important to verify that the patent validly covers the infringing product before reaching out to the infringer. Reaching out with professionally prepared correspondence improves the prospects of success. If the dispute cannot be resolved through correspondence and/or mediation (etc), patents are enforced in the courts. more
Australian patents are enforced by applying to the Federal Court of Australia. The Victorian registry of the FCA is located in the Owen Dixon Commonwealth Law Courts Building on the corner of William and La Trobe Streets, at 305 William Street, Melbourne.
Further reading: How do you enforce a patent?
Swift action and professional advice are important if you are threatened with a patent. A qualified patent attorney can assess the substance of the allegation (Is the patent valid? Does it cover your product and/or process?) and guide you through the process.
Most patent disputes are resolved without going to court. A well-written response pointing out the weaknesses in the patent holder’s position can be enough to end the matter.
Further reading: How to respond to an allegation of infringement
Engineers Australia is Australia’s national body for engineering, describing itself as ‘the voice and champion of our 130,000-plus members … [p]roviding them with the resources, connections and growth they need to do ethical, competent and high-value work in our communities’.
The Australian Institute of Engineering (AIE) is a leading education institution, providing a wide spectrum of engineering courses.
INNOVIC is ‘an independent not-for-profit organisation providing advice and assistance to innovators and start-ups’ across Victoria, which can assist mechanical engineers and manufacturers with product and technology development, marketing and product launch.
Melbourne Angels is the most active startup investor in Victoria, ‘committed to helping innovative founders build the next generation of our economy’. There are Angels groups operating all throughout Australia, investing in various sectors including IT, greentech, medical devices and innovative mechanical engineering.
Breakthrough Victoria invests in innovative ideas, products or technologies to create industries of the future, including innovations in engineering and advanced manufacturing.
The City of Sydney’s innovation and ideas grants are available to support projects that foster innovation, expand opportunities, showcase local expertise and test new ideas to address local and global issues.
Advance Queensland offers grants, programs, events and resources to help Queensland entrepreneurs, innovators and researchers ‘turn their best ideas into commercial successes’, and its website features success stories about award-winning engineering innovations.
The City of Perth’s Technology and Innovation page provides useful links for Perth-based start-ups, entrepreneurs and innovators.
Engineering for Change (E4C) aims to bridge engineering and sustainable development, collaborate to help fulfill sustainability objectives, advance innovation and increase the social impact of engineers’ professional journey.
Eventbrite hosts mechanical engineering-related events throughout Australia.
Why BRM Patent Attorneys
Our friendly team is here to help you. We’ll come back to you within 24 hours.
"*" indicates required fields