Innovation and Intellectual Property Management at the Australian Government Clothing Factory (original) (raw)

The wearing of a uniform creates a social division within society: those that belong to the group identified by the uniform and those that do not. The wearing of a military uniform gives rise to additional sentiments, especially those of national pride. It serves to distinguish the nation from others and thus must be protected from potential imitators. In 1912 the relatively new Australian Government established the Australian Government Clothing Factory in South Melbourne to produce uniforms for their fledgling Army. In collaboration with the Defence Department the Factory became the driving force behind innovations, design specifications, approvals and design protection. In times of high demand, scores of private clothing firms were contracted to deliver the required quantities of military garments. They were subject to detailed specifications describing the methods of manufacture. Innovation introduced by the Clothing Factory had long lasting effects upon the Australian clothing sector and the development of some industries, in particular the cotton industry. The manner in which these processes were managed is the subject of this paper. For the first time archival documents are delivering evidence of the impact of innovation and intellectual property management of the Australian military uniforms.

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