Elise Steegstra

Creative workspace illustrating IP licensing, with a laptop, artwork, photography and a checklist covering licence scope, duration, territory, exclusivity and payment.

3 June 2026 ·

Elise Steegstra

How to License Your Creative Work Without Losing Control

Creating something valuable is one thing. Working out how other people can use it — without accidentally giving away more than you intended — is another. For designers, photographers, writers, artists,...

Film clapperboard, film strip and production credit sheet with the director credit highlighted in pink, representing copyright, attribution and moral rights for creatives in Australia.

27 May 2026 ·

Elise Steegstra

Copyright and Moral Rights in Australia: Why Giving Credit Matters

When we talk about copyright, the conversation usually starts with ownership. Who owns the photograph? Who owns the film? Can the business reproduce the design? Can the client change the work? Can someone...

Creative workspace with design materials, laptop and notebook promoting an Elise Explains IP episode about copyright basics and ownership for Australian creatives.

20 May 2026 ·

Elise Steegstra

Who Actually Owns Your Work? Copyright Basics for Creatives in Australia

If you create something, you own it. Right? Sometimes. But copyright ownership in Australia can be more complicated than many creatives realise. Whether you are a graphic designer, photographer, illustrator,...

14 May 2026 ·

Elise Steegstra

High Court Clarifies “Honest Concurrent Use” in Landmark ZIP Trade Mark Decision

The High Court of Australia issued a key decision in Zip Co Limited v Firstmac Limited HCA 16, clarifying the scope of the “honest concurrent use” defence under the Trade Marks Act 1995 (Cth). This...

Oracle v Google blog hero image featuring an Android phone, law books, scales of justice and a gavel, illustrating the Java API copyright dispute and the difference between fair use and fair dealing.

13 May 2026 ·

Elise Steegstra

Oracle v Google: What the API Copyright Case Means for Australian Businesses

What happens when you write your own software code, but deliberately make it work like someone else’s? That question sat at the centre of one of the most significant software copyright disputes of the...

6 May 2026 ·

Elise Steegstra

Why Expanding Overseas Can Put Your Trade Mark at Risk

I’m writing this from London, where I’m attending INTA 2026 alongside trade mark professionals and brand owners from around the world. And between the conference sessions, meetings and receptions, one...