The recently approved Patents Amendment Bill which establishes a trans-Tasman patent regime will significantly boost efficiency, the Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister says.
Welcoming the passing of the bill, also known as the Trans-Tasman Patent Attorneys and Other Matters Bill, Minister Paul Goldsmith said that patent attorneys make up a small profession that provides specialist advice to innovative businesses on the protection and exploitation of intellectual property.
“The two countries share over 500 trans-Tasman patent attorneys. With many of them already registered in both jurisdictions it makes sense to take advantage of economies of scale and save the profession time, money and effort,” says Goldsmith.
“A modern regime for regulating patent attorneys ensures New Zealand businesses have optimal access to high quality, reliable advice,” the minister adds.
The key amendments introduced by the bill include the establishment a single trans-Tasman register and the creation of a trans-Tasman code of conduct.
The bill also establishes a patent attorney’s disciplinary tribunal and the specification of consistent qualifications for registration.
The trans-Tasman regime will commence on 24 February 2017. According to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, all who are on the register of patent attorneys as of the commencement of the new regime will be listed on the new trans-Tasman register with renewals annually thereafter.
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