Law Commons^™

A Submission To The Senate Legal And Constitutional Committee On The Trade Marks Amendment (Tobacco Plain Packaging) Bill 2011 (Cth), Matthew Rimmer

Matthew Rimmer

As an intellectual property expert, I am of the view that the much threatened litigation by the Tobacco Industry against the proposed plain packaging for tobacco products is somewhat vexatious.Both the Tobacco Plain Packaging Bill 2011 (Cth) and the Trade Marks Amendment (Tobacco Plain Packaging) Bill 2011 (Cth) are clearly within the Commonwealth's legislative power and capacity; and represent an effective means of implementing some of Australia's obligations under the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.At the outset, it is worth recalling that internal documents from British American Tobacco emphasized that 'current conventions & treaties afford little protection' for tobacco …

The Case For The Plain Packaging Of Tobacco Products, Becky Freeman, Simon Chapman, Matthew Rimmer

Matthew Rimmer

The global Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) requires nations to ban all tobacco advertising and promotion. In the face of these restrictions, tobacco packaging has become the key promotional vehicle for the tobacco industry to interest smokers and potential smokers in tobacco products. This paper reviews available research into the likely impact of mandatory plain packaging and internal tobacco industry statements about the importance of packs as promotional vehicles. It critiques legal objections raised by the industry about plain packaging violating laws and international trade agreements, showing these to be without foundation. Plain packaging of all tobacco products would …

Australian Icons: Authenticity Marks And Identity Politics, Matthew Rimmer

Matthew Rimmer

This article evaluates the adoption and implementation of an Indigenous certification trademark system in Australia. Section II considers the use of copyright law, moral rights provisions and consumer protection laws to protect Indigenous cultural property in Australia. It suggests that there needs to be additional protection under trademark law - especially to deal with problems concerning communal ownership, material form and duration of protection. Section III evaluates the efficacy of the scheme for marks of authenticity established by the National Indigenous Arts Advocacy Association in November 1999. It contends that there were practical problems with the implementation of the scheme …

Virtual Countries: Internet Domain Names And Geographical Terms, Matthew Rimmer

Matthew Rimmer