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Software & ICT

Our software & ICT team can advise you on all aspects of intellectual property protection relating to software innovation, computer-implemented technology and telecommunications.

Software & ICT

Our software & ICT team can advise you on all aspects of intellectual property protection relating to software innovation, computer-implemented technology and telecommunications.

Software underpins vast swathes of technological and commercial innovation. It brings with it a unique set of intellectual property issues and solutions spanning many forms of IP, including know-how, confidential information, copyright, trade marks, licensing and patents. Our team has expertise across all of these areas, and in-depth experience advising clients of all sizes to help them navigate the issues.

Our ICT expertise is also deep and long-standing. We have managed large patent portfolios for global tech giants and advised clients of all sizes on many aspects of IP relating to the ICT industry.

With our skilled and experienced team, long and established reputation in the sector, it is easy to see why many big names in software & ICT trust us to protect their IP.

Meet our software & ICT experts

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Nick Mountford

Partner

Nick Mountford

With over 25-years’ experience as a patent attorney in the engineering/ICT sector, Nick has helped numerous clients achieve commercially beneficial ownership and control of their IP, while mitigating against risks posed by competitors. His work centres on protecting clients’ innovations…

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Jonathan Lucas

Partner

Jonathan Lucas

Jonathan heads James & Wells’ Patents Team specialising in mechanical engineering, electronics, physics, telecommunications and software. He has a strong academic background in physics and many years’ patent attorney experience working across all these fields. He specialises in drafting patent…

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Mike Flint

Partner

Mike Flint

Mike specialises in the electrical, electronics and software fields and has specialist knowledge of acquiring IP rights in the Asian market. He has a strong academic background having graduated with a first-class honours degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from…

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Ceri Wells

Partner

Ceri Wells

Ceri is a founding partner of James & Wells, a past president of the New Zealand Institute of Patent Attorneys, an experienced patent and trade mark attorney, and an outspoken champion of innovation. As an experienced lawyer and patent attorney…

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Tim Walden

Managing Partner

Tim Walden

Tim is the Managing Partner of James & Wells and specialises in trade mark law. Managing large trade mark portfolios, completing clearance investigations for new brands, devising filing strategies, establishing brand ownership, and enforcing trade marks overseas, are all part…

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Jason Tuck

Senior Associate

Jason Tuck

Ensuring businesses have sound commercial objectives in place, Jason provides advice on identifying, securing, and leveraging their IP – particularly in relation to patents and designs. Between local exporters and overseas companies entering New Zealand, Jason has experience in advising…

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Shaun Hagerty

Associate

Shaun Hagerty

Shaun is an Associate in the Hamilton Trade Marks team. Shaun also works in the Asia Division. He specialises in advising clients from a wide range of industries regarding the availability, protection and maintenance of their brands in New Zealand…

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Edward Chen

Associate

Edward Chen

Edward is a Taiwanese born and New Zealand educated trade mark lawyer with a background in commercial law. The majority of Edward’s work concerns trade mark law and practice, with a particular focus on registering and clearing trade marks for…

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Tonia Brugh

Partner

Tonia Brugh

Tonia is a dual qualified trade mark and intellectual property specialist, with over 20 years of domestic and international experience advising clients in this area. Tonia also has significant experience in the entertainment and IT sectors, including drafting, reviewing and…

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Thomas Lieu

Trainee Patent Attorney

Thomas Lieu

Thomas joined the Melbourne Patents Team in 2023 after completing his Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, specialising in advanced Manufacturing and Mechatronics. During his Honours, he worked on producing and analysing the viability of…

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Kate Wilson

Consultant – IP Strategist

Kate Wilson

Kate, a former founding partner of James & Wells, is a registered patent attorney (in New Zealand and Australia), has degrees in physics and chemistry, and is internationally recognised as a leading IP strategist with particular experience in patent matters….

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Insights & Resources

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Patents

Best method requirement in Australian and New Zealand Patent Law

A recent decision of Justice Burley in the Federal Court of Australia[1] has shone a light on the requirement of a patentee to disclose the best method of implementing his/her/its invention. In Australia[2], as in New Zealand[3], it is a requirement for the valid grant of patent rights that the patentee discloses “the best method...

IP update

Changes to IP Australia Official Fees

IP Australia have announced changes to their patent fee procedure which will be effective from 1st October 2024. These changes include incremental fee increases (+10-20%) for patent prosecution and large increases in opposition fees (up to 100%). The most significant change is to bring forward the timing as to when excess claim fees are incurred....

Patents

Food Technology Patent Activity in Australia

The food manufacturing sector is the largest of Australia’s manufacturing industries, and has experienced significant government investment and growth in recent years[1]. Alongside this, patent filings in the food technology field in Australia have more than doubled in less than ten years, and as of 2021 (the last year for which there is complete patent...

Patents

Software modifications to strength testing device sufficient to circumvent infringement

Muscle strength testing can be used to provide guidance as to when it is safe for a subject to return from an injury or to proactively identify muscle weaknesses that may pose injury risks. Strength testing has become commonplace in elite sport and is filtering down to amateur level, increasing the market for testing equipment....

Trade marks

2024…new year, new opportunities?

First published in Bay of Plenty Business News January 2024 edition “Victory comes from finding opportunities in problems” (Sun Tzu) “Every time. Every, single, time. There has got to be a better way!” So you grumpily say to yourself as another pair of trousers is ruined from spilt bleach. Whatever the circumstances, if you are...
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How we can help

Patents
Copyright
Trade Secrets & Non-Disclosure
Trade Marks
Domain Names
Fair Trade
Enforcement & Dispute Resolution
Licensing & Commercialisation
International Filings
Renewals & Maintenance

Your Champions of Innovation®

Since 1979, James & Wells has been at the forefront of innovation in Australasia. We are here to help you grow, leverage and protect your IP. Our depth of experience ranges from managing large IP portfolios for international corporations, right through to protecting the ideas of start-ups, and everything in between. No matter the size of your organisation, James & Wells are here to be your dedicated Champions of Innovation®.

We are a full-service IP firm – that means you will find everything you need to protect your IP just by working with us. We will help you with patents, trade marks, litigation and IP strategy – our people are externally recognised as some of the best in the business, and they work together to bring you custom-built IP solutions that are tailored exactly to your needs. When you work with James & Wells, you know you’re in a safe pair of hands, with a highly experienced team supporting you.

Talk to us today about how we can work together.

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