Investors and IP creators will receive the free initial consultation as a means to encourage them to see a qualified patent or trade mark attorney. The IPTA claims that a significant proportion of IP in Australia is currently unprotected, with most of their members knowing of inventors who have tried to “go it alone” with their IP, only to end up finding they are inadequately protected or facing unnecessary costs when enforcing their rights later on.

“The sad fact is that once you have filed for IP protection, it can be difficult, expensive, and, quite often, impossible, to go back later and fix errors or omissions made during the initial drafting and filing processes,” said Stuart Smith, an IPTA councillor.

IPTA said the consultation service should give creators an understanding of appropriate forms of protection, the different options available, costs, documentation and the countries in which that person should be filing.

The consultations will typically take around 30 minutes and be offered in person or over the phone for those living in remote areas.

In commenting on some of the problems associated with poorly advised IP protection, Smith said: “We see it as part of the institute’s role to take an educational position in relation to IP, in order to minimise these sorts of problems, and our free consultation service is a tangible aspect of that role.”