- Patents Act 1990
- Contents
- Chapter 1—Introductory
- Chapter 2—Patent rights, ownership and validity
- Chapter 3—From application to acceptance
- Chapter 4—Publication
- Chapter 5—Opposition to grant of standard patent
- Chapter 6—Grant and term of patents
- Chapter 6A—Divisional applications
- Chapter 7—Patents of addition
- Chapter 8—PCT applications and convention applications
- Chapter 9—Re-examination of standard patents
- Chapter 9A—Examination, re-examination andopposition-innovation patents
- Chapter 10—Amendments
- Chapter 11—Infringement
- Chapter 12—Compulsory licences and revocation of patents
- Chapter 13—Withdrawal and lapsing of applications andceasing of patents
- Chapter 14—Contracts
- Chapter 15—Special provisions relating to associatedtechnology
- Chapter 16—Jurisdiction and powers of courts
- Chapter 17—The Crown
- Chapter 18—Miscellaneous offences
- Chapter 19—The Register and official documents
- Chapter 20—Patent Attorneys
- Chapter 21—Administration
- Chapter 22—Miscellaneous
- Chapter 23—Transitional and savings provisions
- Schedule 1—Dictionary
- Schedule 2—Consequential Amendments
- Notes
- Chapter 1—Introductory
- 1 Short title
- 2 Commencement
- 3 Definitions
- 4 What are the typical steps in getting and maintaining a standardpatent?
- 5 Associated applications
- 6 Deposit requirements
- 7 Novelty and inventive step
- 8 Disclosure in basic applications
- 9 Secret use
- 10 Certain international applications to be taken to have been givenan international filing date
- 11 Act binds the Crown
- 12 Application of Act
- 12A Application of the Criminal Code
- Chapter 2—Patent rights, ownership and validity
- Part 1—Patent rights
- Part 2—Ownership
- Part 3—Validity
- Division 1—Validity
- Division 2—Matters not affecting validity
- 22 Invalidity in relation to one claim not to affect validity in relationto other claims
- 23 Validity not affected by publication etc. after priority date
- 24 Validity not affected by certain publication or use
- 25 Validity: patents of addition
- 26 Validity not affected in certain cases involving amendments
- Division 3—Notice of matters affecting validity
- Chapter 3—From application to acceptance
- Part 1—Patent applications
- Division 1—Applications
- 29 Application for patent
- 30 Filing date
- 31 Joint applicants
- 32 Disputes between applicants etc.
- 33 Applications by opponents etc.
- 34 Applications by eligible persons arising out of Court proceedings
- 35 Applications by eligible persons following revocation byCommissioner
- 36 Other applications by eligible persons
- 37 Complete application may be treated as provisional
- 38 Time for making complete application
- Division 2—Specifications
- Division 3—Priority dates
- Division 1—Applications
- Part 2—Examination of standard patent requestsand specifications
- Part 3—Acceptance
- Chapter 4—Publication
- Chapter 5—Opposition to grant of standardpatent
- Chapter 6—Grant and term of patents
- Part 1—Grant
- Part 2—Term
- Part 3—Extension of term of standard patentsrelating to pharmaceutical substances
- 70 Applications for extension of patent
- 71 Form and timing of an application
- 72 Notification and public inspection of application
- 73 Withdrawal of application
- 74 Acceptance or refusal of application
- 75 Opposition to grant of extension
- 76 Grant of extension
- 76A Notification of extension to the Secretary, Health and FamilyServices
- 77 Calculation of term of extension
- 78 Exclusive rights of patentee are limited if extension granted
- 79 Rights of patentee if extension granted after patent expires
- 79A Commissioner not to make decision if court proceedingspending
- Chapter 6A—Divisional applications
- Chapter 7—Patents of addition
- 80 Chapter does not apply to innovation patents
- 81 Grant of patent of addition
- 82 Revocation of patent and grant of patent of addition instead
- 83 Term of patent of addition
- 85 Revocation of patent for main invention
- 86 Renewal fees not payable
- 87 Fees payable where patent of addition becomes an independentpatent
- Chapter 8—PCT applications and conventionapplications
- Chapter 9—Re-examination of standardpatents
- 96A Chapter does not apply to innovation patents
- 97 Re-examination of complete specifications
- 98 Report on re-examination
- 99 Statement by applicant or patentee
- 100 Copies of report to be given to court
- 100A Refusal to grant patent—re-examination before grant
- 101 Revocation of patent—re-examination after grant
- Chapter 9A—Examination, re-examinationand opposition-innovation patents
- Part 1—Examination of innovation patents
- 101A Examination may be requested or Commissioner may decideto examine
- 101B Examination of an innovation patent
- 101C How and when examination to be carried out
- 101D Commissioner to be given information on searches
- 101E Certificate of examination
- 101F Revocation of innovation patents following examination undersection 101B
- Part 2—Re-examination of innovation patents
- Part 3—Opposition to innovation patents
- Part 1—Examination of innovation patents
- Chapter 10—Amendments
- Part 1—Amendments that are not allowable
- Part 2—Amendments of patent requests,specifications and other filed documents
- Part 3—Miscellaneous
- 110 Advertisement of amendment of complete specification
- 112 Pending proceedings
- 113 Persons claiming under assignment or agreement
- 114 Priority date of certain amended claims
- 114A Objection cannot be taken to certain amended claims
- 115 Restriction on recovery of damages etc.
- 116 Interpretation of amended specifications
- Chapter 11—Infringement
- Part 1—Infringement and infringementproceedings
- 117 Infringement by supply of products
- 118 Infringement exemptions: use in or on foreign vessels, aircraftor vehicles
- 119 Infringement exemptions: prior use
- 119A Infringement exemptions: acts for obtaining regulatoryapproval of pharmaceuticals
- 120 Infringement proceedings
- 121 Counter-claim for revocation of patent
- 121A Burden of proof—infringement of patent for a process
- 122 Relief for infringement of patent
- 123 Innocent infringement
- Part 2—Non-infringement declarations
- Part 3—Unjustified threats of infringementproceedings
- 128 Application for relief from unjustified threats
- 129 Court’s power to grant relief if threats related to a standardpatent or standard patent application
- 129A Threats related to an innovation patent application orinnovation patent and court’s power to grant relief
- 130 Counter-claim for infringement
- 131 Notification of patent not a threat
- 132 Liability of legal practitioner or patent attorney
- Part 1—Infringement and infringementproceedings
- Chapter 12—Compulsory licences andrevocation of patents
- 133 Compulsory licences
- 134 Revocation of patent after grant of compulsory licence
- 135 Reasonable requirements of the public
- 136 Orders to be consistent with international agreements
- 136A Dealing with allegation of contravention of application law
- 137 Revocation on surrender of patent
- 138 Revocation of patents in other circumstances
- 139 Parties to proceedings
- 140 Commissioner to be given copies of orders
- Chapter 13—Withdrawal and lapsing ofapplications and ceasing of patents
- Chapter 14—Contracts
- Chapter 15—Special provisions relating toassociated technology
- Chapter 16—Jurisdiction and powers ofcourts
- Chapter 17—The Crown
- Part 1—Introductory
- Part 2—Exploitation by the Crown
- 163 Exploitation of inventions by Crown
- 164 Nominated person or patentee to be informed of exploitation
- 165 Remuneration and terms for exploitation
- 165A Exploitation of invention to cease under court order
- 166 Previous agreements inoperative
- 167 Sale of products
- 168 Supply of products by Commonwealth to foreign countries
- 169 Declarations that inventions have been exploited
- 170 Sale of forfeited articles
- Part 3—Acquisitions by and assignments to theCrown
- Part 4—Prohibition orders
- Chapter 18—Miscellaneous offences
- 177 False representations about the Patent Office
- 178 False representations about patents or patented articles
- 179 Failure to comply with summons
- 180 Refusal to give evidence
- 181 Failure to produce documents or articles
- 182 Officers not to traffic in inventions
- 183 Unauthorised disclosure of information by employees etc.
- 183 Unauthorised disclosure of information by employees etc.
- 184 Other unauthorised disclosures of information
- 185 Commissioner etc. not to prepare documents or search records
- Chapter 19—The Register and officialdocuments
- 186 Register of Patents
- 187 Registration of particulars of patents etc.
- 188 Trusts not registrable
- 189 Power of patentee to deal with patent
- 190 Inspection of Register
- 191 False entries in Register
- 192 Orders for rectification of Register
- 193 Inspection of documents
- 194 Information obtainable from Commissioner
- 195 Evidence—the Register
- 196 Evidence—unregistered particulars
- 197 Evidence—certificate and copies of documents
- Chapter 20—Patent Attorneys
- Part 1—Registration, privileges and professionalconduct
- Part 2—Offences
- Chapter 21—Administration
- Chapter 22—Miscellaneous
- 212 Copies of examination reports to be communicated
- 213 Making and signing applications etc.
- 214 Filing of documents
- 215 Death of applicant or nominated person
- 216 Exercise of discretionary power by Commissioner
- 217 Assessors
- 218 Costs where patent invalid in part
- 219 Security for costs
- 220 Costs of attendance of patent attorney
- 221 Service of documents
- 222 Publication of Official Journal etc.
- 222A Doing act when Patent Office reopens after end of periodotherwise provided for doing act
- 223 Extensions of time
- 224 Review of decisions
- 225 Conduct of employees and agents of natural persons
- 226 Reproduction of published specifications does not infringecopyright
- 227 Fees
- 227A Professional Standards Board for Patent and Trade MarksAttorneys
- 228 Regulations
- 229 Consequential amendments
- 230 Repeal
- Chapter 23—Transitional and savingsprovisions
- 231 Application of Part III of 1989 Amending Act
- 233 Patents granted under 1952 Act
- 234 Applications under 1952 Act
- 235 Other applications and proceedings under 1952 Act
- 236 Micro-organisms
- 237 Orders, directions etc. under 1952 Act
- 238 The Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner
- 239 The Register of Patents and Register of Patent Attorneys
- 240 Registered patent attorneys
- Schedule 1—Dictionary
- Schedule 2—Consequential Amendments
- Notes to the Patents Act 1990
- Note 1
- Table of Acts
- Act Notes
- Table of Amendments
- Note 2
- Note 3
Patents Act 1990
Act No. 83 of 1990 as amended
This compilation was prepared on 1 January 2011 taking into account amendments up to Act No. 103 of 2010
The text of any of those amendments not in force on that date is appended in the Notes section
The operation of amendments that have been incorporated may be affected by application provisions that are set out in the Notes section
Prepared by the Office of Legislative Drafting and Publishing, Attorney-General’s Department, Canberra
Contents
Chapter 1—Introductory
1 Short title [see Note 1].......................................................................1 2 Commencement [see Note 1].............................................................1 3 Definitions.........................................................................................1 4 What are the typical steps in getting and maintaining a
standard patent?.................................................................................5 5 Associated applications.....................................................................8 6 Deposit requirements.........................................................................8 7 Novelty and inventive step................................................................8 8 Disclosure in basic applications.......................................................10 9 Secret use.........................................................................................10 10 Certain international applications to be taken to have been
given an international filing date.....................................................11 11 Act binds the Crown........................................................................12 12 Application of Act...........................................................................12 12A Application of the Criminal Code ...................................................12
Chapter 2—Patent rights, ownership and validity 13
Part 1—Patent rights 13 13 Exclusive rights given by patent......................................................13 14 Assignment of patent.......................................................................13
Part 2—Ownership 14 15 Who may be granted a patent?.........................................................14 16 Co-ownership of patents..................................................................14 17 Directions to co-owners...................................................................15
Part 3—Validity 16
Division 1—Validity 16 18 Patentable inventions.......................................................................16 19 Certificate of validity.......................................................................17 20 Validity of patent not guaranteed.....................................................17 21 Validity not implied by making or refusal of
non-infringement declaration...........................................................18
Division 2—Matters not affecting validity 19 22 Invalidity in relation to one claim not to affect validity in
relation to other claims....................................................................19 23 Validity not affected by publication etc. after priority date.............19 24 Validity not affected bycertain publication or use..........................19 25 Validity:patents of addition............................................................20 26 Validity not affected in certain cases involving amendments..........20
Division 3—Notice of matters affecting validity
27 Notice of matters affecting validity of standard patents ..................21 28 Notice of matters affecting validity of innovation patents...............21 Chapter 3—From application to acceptance 23 Part 1—Patent applications 23 Division 1—Applications 23
29 Application for patent......................................................................23 30 Filing date........................................................................................23 31 Joint applicants................................................................................23 32 Disputes between applicants etc......................................................23 33 Applications by opponents etc.........................................................24 34 Applications by eligible persons arising out of Court
proceedings......................................................................................26 35 Applications by eligible persons following revocation by
Commissioner..................................................................................26 36 Other applications by eligible persons.............................................27 37 Complete application may be treated as provisional........................28 38 Time for making complete application............................................28
Division 2—Specifications 30 40 Specifications..................................................................................30 41 Specifications: micro-organisms .....................................................30 42 Micro-organisms ceasing to be reasonably available.......................31
Division 3—Priority dates 33 43 Priority dates....................................................................................33
Part 2—Examination of standard patent requests and specifications 34
Division 1—Examination 34 44 Request for examination..................................................................34 45 Examination [see also Table B].......................................................34 46 Request for deferment of examination.............................................35
Division 2—Modified examination 37 47 Request for modified examination...................................................37 48 Modified examination [see also Table B]........................................37
Part 3—Acceptance 38
Division 1—Acceptance of standard patents 38 49 Acceptance of patent request: standard patent.................................38 50 Application or grant may be refused in certain cases ......................39 51 Appeal.............................................................................................39
Division 2—Acceptance of innovation patents 40 52 Formalities checkand acceptance of innovation patents.................40
Chapter 4—Publication 41 53 Publication of certain information about applicants etc.[see also Table B] 54 Notice of publication.......................................................................41 55 Documents open to public inspection..............................................42 56 Certain documents not to be published............................................43 57 Effect of publication ofcomplete specification...............................43 58 Result of search may be disclosed...................................................44
Chapter 5—Opposition to grant of standard patent 45 59 Opposition to grant of standard patent.............................................45 60 Hearing and decision by Commissioner..........................................45
Chapter 6—Grant and term of patents 46
Part 1—Grant 46 61 Grant of standard patent ..................................................................46 62 Grant and publication of innovation patent .....................................46 63 Joint patentees.................................................................................47 64 Grant: multiple applications ............................................................47 65 Date of patent ..................................................................................47 66 Sealing of duplicate of patent..........................................................47
Part 2—Term 49 67 Term of standard patent...................................................................49 68 Term of innovation patent ...............................................................49
Part 3—Extension of term of standard patents relating to pharmaceutical substances 50 70 Applications for extension of patent................................................50 71 Form and timing of an application...................................................51 72 Notification andpublic inspection of application............................52 73 Withdrawal ofapplication...............................................................52 74 Acceptance or refusal of application ...............................................52 75 Opposition to grant of extension......................................................53 76 Grant of extension ...........................................................................53 76A Notification of extension to the Secretary, Health and Family Services ...........................................................................................53 77 Calculation of term of extension......................................................54 78 Exclusive rights of patentee are limited if extension granted ..........54 79 Rights of patentee if extension granted after patent expires ............55 79A Commissioner not to make decision if court proceedings pending............................................................................................55
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Chapter 6A—Divisional applications 56 79B Divisional applications prior to grant of patent ...............................56 79C Divisional applications for innovation patents may be made after grant of an innovation patent...................................................56
Chapter 7—Patents of addition 58 80 Chapter does not applyto innovation patents..................................58 81 Grant of patent of addition...............................................................58 82 Revocation of patent and grant of patent of addition instead...........58 83 Term of patent of addition...............................................................59 85 Revocation of patent for main invention .........................................60 86 Renewal fees not payable................................................................60 87 Fees payable where patent of addition becomes an independent patent...........................................................................60
Chapter 8—PCT applications and convention applications 61
Part 1—PCT applications 61 88 PCT applications .............................................................................61 89 Modified application of Act [see also Table B]...............................61 90 Publication of PCT applications [see also Table B] ........................62 91 Application of certain provisions to PCT applications....................63 92 Notice of publication [see also Table B] .........................................63 93 Evidence of mattersarising under PCT...........................................64
Part 2—Convention applications 65 94 Convention applicants may make Convention applications ............65 95 Manner of making Convention application .....................................65 96 Withdrawn, abandoned or refused applications...............................65
Chapter 9—Re-examination of standard patents 67 96A Chapter does not applyto innovation patents..................................67 97 Re-examinationof complete specifications.....................................67 98 Report on re-examination................................................................68 99 Statementbyapplicant or patentee..................................................68 100 Copies of report to be given to court ...............................................68 100A Refusal to grant patent—re-examination before grant.....................68 101 Revocation of patent—re-examination after grant...........................69
Chapter 9A—Examination, re-examination and opposition-innovation patents 70
Part 1—Examination of innovation patents
Act No. 83 of 1990 as amended
This compilation was prepared on 1 January 2011 taking into account amendments up to Act No. 103 of 2010
The text of any of those amendments not in force on that date is appended in the Notes section
The operation of amendments that have been incorporated may be affected by application provisions that are set out in the Notes section
Prepared by the Office of Legislative Drafting and Publishing, Attorney-General’s Department, Canberra
Chapter 1—Introductory
1 Short title [see Note 1].......................................................................1 2 Commencement [see Note 1].............................................................1 3 Definitions.........................................................................................1 4 What are the typical steps in getting and maintaining a
standard patent?.................................................................................5 5 Associated applications.....................................................................8 6 Deposit requirements.........................................................................8 7 Novelty and inventive step................................................................8 8 Disclosure in basic applications.......................................................10 9 Secret use.........................................................................................10 10 Certain international applications to be taken to have been
given an international filing date.....................................................11 11 Act binds the Crown........................................................................12 12 Application of Act...........................................................................12 12A Application of the Criminal Code ...................................................12
Chapter 2—Patent rights, ownership and validity 13
Part 1—Patent rights 13 13 Exclusive rights given by patent......................................................13 14 Assignment of patent.......................................................................13
Part 2—Ownership 14 15 Who may be granted a patent?.........................................................14 16 Co-ownership of patents..................................................................14 17 Directions to co-owners...................................................................15
Division 1—Validity 16 18 Patentable inventions.......................................................................16 19 Certificate of validity.......................................................................17 20 Validity of patent not guaranteed.....................................................17 21 Validity not implied by making or refusal of
non-infringement declaration...........................................................18
Division 2—Matters not affecting validity 19 22 Invalidity in relation to one claim not to affect validity in
relation to other claims....................................................................19 23 Validity not affected by publication etc. after priority date.............19 24 Validity not affected bycertain publication or use..........................19 25 Validity:patents of addition............................................................20 26 Validity not affected in certain cases involving amendments..........20
27 Notice of matters affecting validity of standard patents ..................21 28 Notice of matters affecting validity of innovation patents...............21 29 Application for patent......................................................................23 30 Filing date........................................................................................23 31 Joint applicants................................................................................23 32 Disputes between applicants etc......................................................23 33 Applications by opponents etc.........................................................24 34 Applications by eligible persons arising out of Court
proceedings......................................................................................26 35 Applications by eligible persons following revocation by
Commissioner..................................................................................26 36 Other applications by eligible persons.............................................27 37 Complete application may be treated as provisional........................28 38 Time for making complete application............................................28
Division 2—Specifications 30 40 Specifications..................................................................................30 41 Specifications: micro-organisms .....................................................30 42 Micro-organisms ceasing to be reasonably available.......................31
Division 3—Priority dates 33 43 Priority dates....................................................................................33
Part 2—Examination of standard patent requests and specifications 34
Division 1—Examination 34 44 Request for examination..................................................................34 45 Examination [see also Table B].......................................................34 46 Request for deferment of examination.............................................35
Division 2—Modified examination 37 47 Request for modified examination...................................................37 48 Modified examination [see also Table B]........................................37
Part 3—Acceptance 38
Division 1—Acceptance of standard patents 38 49 Acceptance of patent request: standard patent.................................38 50 Application or grant may be refused in certain cases ......................39 51 Appeal.............................................................................................39
Division 2—Acceptance of innovation patents 40 52 Formalities checkand acceptance of innovation patents.................40
Chapter 4—Publication 41 53 Publication of certain information about applicants etc.[see also Table B] 54 Notice of publication.......................................................................41 55 Documents open to public inspection..............................................42 56 Certain documents not to be published............................................43 57 Effect of publication ofcomplete specification...............................43 58 Result of search may be disclosed...................................................44
Chapter 5—Opposition to grant of standard patent 45 59 Opposition to grant of standard patent.............................................45 60 Hearing and decision by Commissioner..........................................45
Chapter 6—Grant and term of patents 46
Part 1—Grant 46 61 Grant of standard patent ..................................................................46 62 Grant and publication of innovation patent .....................................46 63 Joint patentees.................................................................................47 64 Grant: multiple applications ............................................................47 65 Date of patent ..................................................................................47 66 Sealing of duplicate of patent..........................................................47
Part 2—Term 49 67 Term of standard patent...................................................................49 68 Term of innovation patent ...............................................................49
Part 3—Extension of term of standard patents relating to pharmaceutical substances 50 70 Applications for extension of patent................................................50 71 Form and timing of an application...................................................51 72 Notification andpublic inspection of application............................52 73 Withdrawal ofapplication...............................................................52 74 Acceptance or refusal of application ...............................................52 75 Opposition to grant of extension......................................................53 76 Grant of extension ...........................................................................53 76A Notification of extension to the Secretary, Health and Family Services ...........................................................................................53 77 Calculation of term of extension......................................................54 78 Exclusive rights of patentee are limited if extension granted ..........54 79 Rights of patentee if extension granted after patent expires ............55 79A Commissioner not to make decision if court proceedings pending............................................................................................55
v
Chapter 6A—Divisional applications 56 79B Divisional applications prior to grant of patent ...............................56 79C Divisional applications for innovation patents may be made after grant of an innovation patent...................................................56
Chapter 7—Patents of addition 58 80 Chapter does not applyto innovation patents..................................58 81 Grant of patent of addition...............................................................58 82 Revocation of patent and grant of patent of addition instead...........58 83 Term of patent of addition...............................................................59 85 Revocation of patent for main invention .........................................60 86 Renewal fees not payable................................................................60 87 Fees payable where patent of addition becomes an independent patent...........................................................................60
Chapter 8—PCT applications and convention applications 61
Part 1—PCT applications 61 88 PCT applications .............................................................................61 89 Modified application of Act [see also Table B]...............................61 90 Publication of PCT applications [see also Table B] ........................62 91 Application of certain provisions to PCT applications....................63 92 Notice of publication [see also Table B] .........................................63 93 Evidence of mattersarising under PCT...........................................64
Part 2—Convention applications 65 94 Convention applicants may make Convention applications ............65 95 Manner of making Convention application .....................................65 96 Withdrawn, abandoned or refused applications...............................65
Chapter 9—Re-examination of standard patents 67 96A Chapter does not applyto innovation patents..................................67 97 Re-examinationof complete specifications.....................................67 98 Report on re-examination................................................................68 99 Statementbyapplicant or patentee..................................................68 100 Copies of report to be given to court ...............................................68 100A Refusal to grant patent—re-examination before grant.....................68 101 Revocation of patent—re-examination after grant...........................69
Chapter 9A—Examination, re-examination and opposition-innovation patents 70
Part 1—Examination of innovation patents Contents
Part 3—Validity 16
Division 3—Notice of matters affecting validity
Chapter 3—From application to acceptance 23 Part 1—Patent applications 23 Division 1—Applications 23