IP Australia
February 1998 – present
Previously Australian Industrial Property Organisation (1992–1998).
Commonwealth agency that administers Australia's intellectual property rights system — patents, trade marks, designs and plant breeder's rights — and advises the government on intellectual property policy.
Names over time
- Patent Office1904–1992
- Australian Industrial Property Organisation1992–1998
- IP Australia1998–present
How it came into existence
Created in February 1998 as the successor to the Australian Industrial Property Organisation, taking over its staff and its administration of patents, trade marks and designs, in the Department of Industry, Science and Tourism portfolio. Plant breeder's rights were later added to its responsibilities.
IP Australia describes the 1998 change as the old office being dismantled and replaced by a new agency.
Legislation: Patents Act 1990; Trade Marks Act 1995; Designs Act 2003; Plant Breeder's Rights Act 1994
Changes during its life
- 21 October 1998Became part of the Department of Industry, Science and Resources portfolio.
- 26 November 2001Moved to the Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources portfolio.
- 2003The Designs Act 2003 was enacted to replace the Designs Act 1906.
- 3 December 2007Moved to the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research portfolio.
- 14 December 2011Moved to the Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education portfolio.
- 25 March 2013Moved to the Department of Industry, Innovation, Climate Change, Science, Research and Tertiary Education portfolio.
- 18 September 2013Moved to the Department of Industry portfolio.
- 23 December 2014Moved to the Department of Industry and Science portfolio.
- 21 September 2015Moved to the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science portfolio.
- 1 February 2020Moved to the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources portfolio.
- 1 July 2022Moved to the Department of Industry, Science and Resources portfolio.
Main functions
- Examination and grant of patents
- Registration of trade marks
- Registration of designs
- Grant of plant breeder's rights
- Maintenance of the intellectual property registers
- Intellectual property policy advice
Where it sits
In the portfolio of Department of Industry, Science and Resources.
- Type of body
- Non-corporate Commonwealth entity
- Portfolio
- Industry, Science and Resources
- Accountable authority
- Director-General – Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Rule 2014 schedule 1 item 12(c)
- ABN
- 38 113 072 755
Lineage
Loading lineage…
Sources
Primary sources
- List of Commonwealth entities and companies under the PGPA Act, 1 July 2026 (Department of Finance)
- Australian Government Organisations Register (Department of Finance, data.gov.au) (listed from 11 December 2014 to the latest release (30 June 2026))
Government records and websites
Other sources
Some dates or links for this organisation are not fully confirmed. Corrections are welcome.