Five things you didn’t know about selling gift certificates
Do you sell gift cards, vouchers or certificates on your website or through your business? You might be surprised to know that if you don’t meet the Australian Securities and Investments Commission...
View ArticleASIC permanently bans Victorian finance broker
Rudy Noel Frugtniet, a former director of Unique Mortgage Services Pty Ltd and Victorian finance broker operating under MortgageandMigration.com.au, has been banned by ASIC from engaging in credit...
View ArticleColes’ bid to buy Supa IGA stores ramps up concerns over supermarket duopoly...
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has raised concerns over supermarket giant Coles’ proposed bid to buy four Progressive Supa IGA stores in Western Australia. While Coles has recently...
View ArticleCan you trademark a store design? Apple wins the right in Europe
Apple has won the right to trademark its flagship store design in Europe in a landmark ruling. The European Court of Justice last week ruled Apple stores are distinctive enough to warrant being...
View Article“Deceitful” and “appalling” WorkCover cheat found playing basketball faces...
An Adelaide paper mill worker has faced the Adelaide Magistrate’s Court after he was found to have been playing competitive basketball while claiming WorkCover benefits. Sokha Khat was convicted on...
View ArticleHow a Sydney craft brewery took on SABMiller in a two-year trademark battle...
A small craft brewery based in Sydney has emerged victorious in a costly two-year trademark battle with multinational beer giant SABMiller. In a David-and-Goliath type battle, Wayward Brewing has this...
View ArticleSydney businessman already in court accused of underpaying staff an...
A Sydney businessman already facing legal action for allegedly underpaying staff is set to face additional legal action from the Fair Work Ombudsman, who is accusing him of underpaying an additional 22...
View ArticleLandmark s-xual harassment payment could see a jump in future cases and...
The Federal Court has awarded an IT executive $130,000 in a landmark sexual harassment case experts say will have considerable implications for employers. Experts are warning employers to have...
View ArticleBillson hands ACCC powers to fine franchises that breach industry codes
The federal government has pushed ahead with its plans to give the competition watchdog powers to fine franchisees and franchisors that breach the soon-to-be-updated Franchising Code of Conduct. Small...
View ArticleMelbourne property developer charged with $1 million fraud
A Melbourne man has been charged with defrauding 14 investors of more than $1 million over a three-year period. Barry John Patrick of Sunbury appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court last week on...
View ArticleAwards too complex, says Fair Work Ombudsman
Many small Australian businesses are struggling to decipher overly complicated employment awards, according to Fair Work Ombudsman Natalie James. James has spoken out about the complexity contained in...
View Article‘You’ve got an hour’: Family sues NAB and Ombudsman after forced sale of farm
The former owners of one of Australia’s largest stone fruit farms launched legal proceedings yesterday against the forced sale of their business, Murrawee Farms, when it was in receivership last year....
View ArticleSki slope skirmish: Small marketing company wins legal stoush over the word...
A small marketing company has won a lengthy legal battle against its much bigger counterparts over the right to use the word “Thredbo”. In the latest example of a small business David taking on a...
View ArticleFair Work finds employer made up fraud in ‘attempt to rewrite history’
The Fair Work Commission has found a worker who was accused of fraud and dishonesty in relation to a WorkCover claim was unfairly dismissed from the company he worked at for more than 20 years. Shaun...
View ArticleYour business cannot say ‘No refund!’
Does your business have a refund policy? Do you know if you have to provide one? Can customers get a refund if they ‘change their minds’? You cannot say ‘No Refunds’ A business cannot have a ‘No...
View ArticleTop five legal tips for buying property
Buying a property is one of the most important financial decisions you will ever make. It's easy to get swept up in emotions when you think you've found "the one", especially when you're a first home...
View ArticleReporting of data breaches the responsibility of companies – but only when...
The head of the Association for Data-driven Marketing and Advertising (ADMA), Jodie Sangster, has clarified her position on mandatory reporting of data breaches, telling SmartCompany it is a company’s...
View ArticleHalf of working mothers have experienced discrimination at work: report
The Australian Human Rights Commission is calling for an overhaul of the Sex Discrimination Act, on the back of research that shows discrimination of pregnant women and new parents is a “widespread and...
View ArticleMH17 games, plays and musicals: Malaysian company applies to trademark ‘MH17’...
An obscure Malaysian company applied to trademark the term ‘MH17’ in Australia, less than one day after Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was shot down over eastern Ukraine, killing 298 passengers and...
View ArticleChinese restaurant considers legal action after newspaper claimed it charged...
A Chinese restaurant in Sydney is considering legal action after a newspaper published a story which claimed it charged higher prices for non-Chinese customers. Yin Li Sichuan Chinese Restaurant...
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