New Zealand Legislation: Bills

3 Purposes

• The purposes of this Act are to—

  • (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.