Australia’s
Patents Act 1990 will be changing for the better for researchers...
An Amendment (Raising the Bar) Bill
2012 was passed by the House of Representatives 20 March 2012. The Bill
will now be assented to (signed by the Governor General). Most provisions
will come into effect 12 months later (in 2013).The Bill includes several significant reforms, the most important is a research exemption which will allow researchers to conduct experiments on patented matter without risking infringement (N.B. this is research only, doing more than research with your new findings may need agreement with another party or there could be new results/findings which could be protected and commercialised).
The other major reform is
tightening the conditions for granting new patents. This will align Australian
patent law more closely with international standards.
The Bill also simplifies IP
application processes, streamlines patent and trademark procedures and improves
trademark and copyright enforcement.
If you have any questions do
not hesitate to contact UWS Innovation on ip@uws.edu.au.
Remember, if you are a UWS researcher and believe
you have an invention, we would like to hear from you. (http://www.uws.edu.au/innovate/innovate/guidelines,_policies_and_forms)
