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Patents
16 February 2011
A single patent examination process for Australia and New Zealand
A single patent examination process is being initiated for patent applications in Australia and New Zealand, as part of the intellectual property outcomes for the Single Economic Market (SEM).
Under a single examination process, patent applications for the same invention will be examined by a single examiner from either Australia or New Zealand. The process will take account of the separate national laws and will produce two separate Australian and New Zealand patents. This will reduce duplication of work by the Australian and New Zealand Intellectual Property Offices.
This alignment of our systems will save time and money for businesses, by making it easier to protect their intellectual property (IP) in both countries.
Prime Ministers Julia Gillard and John Key made this announcement on 16 February 2011, while reaffirming their commitment to progress the SEM outcomes.
More information
- A single Patent Examination Process for Australia and New Zealand: Fact Sheet [43 kB PDF]
- Trans-Tasman Patents Implementation Plan
- Read the Prime Ministers' speech
