Part 1
Preliminary

Purposes and overview

3 Purposes
  • The purposes of this Act are to—

    • (aa) provide an efficient and effective patent system that—

      • (i) promotes innovation and economic growth while providing an appropriate balance between the interests of inventors and patent owners and the interests of society as a whole; and

      • (ii) complies with New Zealand’s international obligations; and

    • (a) ensure that a patent is granted for an invention only in appropriate circumstances by—

      • (i) establishing appropriate criteria for the granting of a patent; and

      • (ii) providing for procedures that allow the validity of a patent to be tested; and

    • (b) provide greater certainty for patent owners and the users of patented inventions that patents will be valid after they are granted; and

    • (c) address Māori concerns relating to the granting of patents for inventions derived from indigenous plants and animals or from Māori traditional knowledge; and

    • (d) promote quality, expertise, and integrity in the profession of patent attorneys; and

    • (e) ensure that New Zealand’s patent regime takes account of international developments.

    • (e) ensure that New Zealand’s patent legislation takes account of developments in the patent systems of other countries.