Mr. William G. (Bill) McFarlane

Country/Region of practice
Australia
About me

Bill is currently President of FICPI Australia. He is a registered patent and trade marks attorney in Australia and New Zealand with a range of knowledge and experience in the areas of trade marks, physics, electrical and electronic engineering, and computing. Bill has been in the profession for over 34 years and became a partner of Madderns in 1996 and is currently the Senior Partner at Madderns. He is a Member of Engineers Australia. Bill is also an adjunct lecturer at the University of Adelaide providing a course relating to the legal aspects of entrepreneurship.


  • Registered Patent Attorney (AU & NZ)

  • Registered Trade Mark Attorney (AU& NZ)

  • IPTA (Fellow)

  • Academy of Education of IPTA (Fellow)

  • FICPI Australia (President)

  • AIPP

  • Institute of Engineers Australia MIE Australia

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Academic Qualifications

Bachelor of Science (Physics). Graduate Diploma of Electronic Systems

Social Media

Experience & Qualifications

Technical Specialisms
  • Physics
  • Software; computer-implemented inventions
Professional Experience
  • Patent drafting
  • Patent oppositions
  • Registered design prosecution
  • Trade mark oppositions
  • Trade mark prosecution

Roles in FICPI

  • CET 6 Software, High-Tech, and Computer Related Issues

    CET Group 6 focuses on IP issues facing innovators in software, high-tech and other computer-related fields.  Group 6 is also responsible for monitoring and staying current with trends related to patent subject matter eligibility issues affecting these technology fields.  Group 6 is the voice and authority within FICPI on issues and trends related to all emerging digital technologies and IP practice-related issues for practitioners representing clients in these technology fields.

  • Member