Aussie and NZ aim to combine patent rules

Australian and New Zealand inventors and patent attorneys have been invited to comment on a discussion paper proposing a single body to regulate patent attorneys in both countries.

Addressing the media today, New Zealand Commerce Minister Simon Power and Australian Innovation Minister Senator Kim Carr announced that they are keen to develop initiatives to streamline and simplify rules for patent attorneys and inventors who hire patent attorneys.

"Standardised accreditation for patent attorneys will give inventors confidence that they are receiving the same high quality, informed advice on both sides of the Tasman," said Power.

Because the majority of Australian and New Zealand patent attorneys are registered in both countries, Carr said that the creation of a trans-Tasman regulatory framework and having a single body responsible for registering patent attorneys across both countries is a "logical and sensible step".

"A single governance body will help save time, money and effort for the profession as a whole," he said.

The initiatives are part of a larger scheme dubbed the Single Economic Market outcomes framework. The scheme will help create a seamless business environment between Australia and New Zealand.