Commonwealth Consolidated ActsAct No. 83 of 1990 as amended
This compilation was prepared on 27 March 2007
taking into account amendments up to Act No. 106 of 2006
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
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? 3
5............ Associated applications ...................................................................... 6
6............ Deposit requirements ......................................................................... 6
7............ Novelty and inventive step ................................................................ 6
8............ Disclosure in basic applications ......................................................... 8
9............ Secret use ............................................................................................ 8
10.......... Certain international applications to be taken to have been given an international filing date 9
11.......... Act binds the Crown ........................................................................ 10
12.......... Application of Act ........................................................................... 10
12A....... Application of the Criminal Code .................................................... 10
Chapter 2--Patent rights, ownership and validity 11
Part 1--Patent rights 11
13.......... Exclusive rights given by patent ....................................................... 11
14.......... Assignment of patent ...................................................................... 11
Part 2--Ownership 12
15.......... Who may be granted a patent? ......................................................... 12
16.......... Co‑ownership of patents .................................................................. 12
17.......... Directions to co‑owners .................................................................. 13
Part 3--Validity 14
Division 1--Validity 14
18.......... Patentable inventions ........................................................................ 14
19.......... Certificate of validity ........................................................................ 15
20.......... Validity of patent not guaranteed ..................................................... 15
21.......... Validity not implied by making or refusal of non‑infringement declaration 16
Division 2--Matters not affecting validity 17
22.......... Invalidity in relation to one claim not to affect validity in relation to other claims 17
23.......... Validity not affected by publication etc. after priority date ............ 17
24.......... Validity not affected by certain publication or use .......................... 17
25.......... Validity: patents of addition ............................................................. 18
26.......... Validity not affected in certain cases involving amendments ........... 18
Division 3--Notice of matters affecting validity 19
27.......... Notice of matters affecting validity of standard patents .................. 19
28.......... Notice of matters affecting validity of innovation patents ............... 19
Chapter 3--From application to acceptance 21
Part 1--Patent applications 21
Division 1--Applications 21
29.......... Application for patent ...................................................................... 21
30.......... Filing date ......................................................................................... 21
31.......... Joint applicants ................................................................................ 21
32.......... Disputes between applicants etc. ..................................................... 21
33.......... Applications by opponents etc. ....................................................... 22
34.......... Applications by eligible persons arising out of Court proceedings .. 24
35.......... Applications by eligible persons following revocation by Commissioner 24
36.......... Other applications by eligible persons ............................................. 25
37.......... Complete application may be treated as provisional ....................... 26
38.......... Time for making complete application ............................................. 26
Division 2--Specifications 28
40.......... Specifications .................................................................................... 28
41.......... Specifications: micro‑organisms ...................................................... 28
42.......... Micro‑organisms ceasing to be reasonably available ........................ 29
Division 3--Priority dates 31
43.......... Priority dates .................................................................................... 31
Part 2--Examination of standard patent requests and specifications 32
Division 1--Examination 32
44.......... Request for examination ................................................................... 32
45.......... Examination [see also Table B] ........................................................ 32
46.......... Request for deferment of examination .............................................. 33
Division 2--Modified examination 35
47.......... Request for modified examination .................................................... 35
48.......... Modified examination [see also Table B] ......................................... 35
Part 3--Acceptance 36
Division 1--Acceptance of standard patents 36
49.......... Acceptance of patent request: standard patent ................................ 36
50.......... Application or grant may be refused in certain cases ....................... 37
51.......... Appeal .............................................................................................. 37
Division 2--Acceptance of innovation patents 38
52.......... Formalities check and acceptance of innovation patents .................. 38
Chapter 4--Publication 39
53.......... Publication of certain information about
applicants etc.
[see also Table B]
............................................................................. 39
54.......... Notice of publication ........................................................................ 39
55.......... Documents open to public inspection .............................................. 40
56.......... Certain documents not to be published ............................................ 41
57.......... Effect of publication of complete specification ................................ 41
58.......... Result of search may be disclosed .................................................... 42
Chapter 5--Opposition to grant of standard patent 43
59.......... Opposition to grant of standard patent ............................................ 43
60.......... Hearing and decision by Commissioner ............................................ 43
Chapter 6--Grant and term of patents 44
Part 1--Grant 44
61.......... Grant of standard patent .................................................................. 44
62.......... Grant and publication of innovation patent ..................................... 44
63.......... Joint patentees .................................................................................. 45
64.......... Grant: multiple applications ............................................................. 45
65.......... Date of patent ................................................................................... 45
66.......... Sealing of duplicate of patent ........................................................... 45
Part 2--Term 47
67.......... Term of standard patent ................................................................... 47
68.......... Term of innovation patent ................................................................ 47
Part 3--Extension of term of standard patents relating to pharmaceutical substances 48
70.......... Applications for extension of patent ................................................ 48
71.......... Form and timing of an application .................................................... 49
72.......... Notification and public inspection of application ............................ 50
73.......... Withdrawal of application ................................................................ 50
74.......... Acceptance or refusal of application ................................................ 50
75.......... Opposition to grant of extension ...................................................... 51
76.......... Grant of extension ............................................................................ 51
76A....... Notification of extension to the Secretary, Health and Family Services 51
77.......... Calculation of term of extension ....................................................... 52
78.......... Exclusive rights of patentee are limited if extension granted ............ 52
79.......... Rights of patentee if extension granted after patent expires ............. 53
79A....... Commissioner not to make decision if court proceedings pending ... 53
Chapter 6A--Divisional applications 54
79B....... Divisional applications prior to grant of patent ............................... 54
79C....... Divisional applications for innovation patents may be made after grant of an innovation patent 54
Chapter 7--Patents of addition 56
80.......... Chapter does not apply to innovation patents ................................ 56
81.......... Grant of patent of addition ............................................................... 56
82.......... Revocation of patent and grant of patent of addition instead .......... 56
83.......... Term of patent of addition ............................................................... 57
85.......... Revocation of patent for main invention .......................................... 58
86.......... Renewal fees not payable ................................................................. 58
87.......... Fees payable where patent of addition becomes an independent patent 58
Chapter 8--PCT applications and convention applications 59
Part 1--PCT applications 59
88.......... PCT applications .............................................................................. 59
89.......... Modified application of Act [see also Table B] ............................... 59
90.......... Publication of PCT applications [see also Table B] ........................ 60
91.......... Application of certain provisions to PCT applications ................... 61
92.......... Notice of publication [see also Table B] .......................................... 61
93.......... Evidence of matters arising under PCT ............................................ 62
Part 2--Convention applications 63
94.......... Convention applicants may make Convention applications ............ 63
95.......... Manner of making Convention application ...................................... 63
96.......... Withdrawn, abandoned or refused applications .............................. 63
Chapter 9--Re‑examination of standard patents 65
96A....... Chapter does not apply to innovation patents ................................ 65
97.......... Re‑examination of complete specifications ...................................... 65
98.......... Report on re‑examination ................................................................. 66
99.......... Statement by applicant or patentee .................................................. 66
100........ Copies of report to be given to court ............................................... 66
100A..... Refusal to grant patent--re‑examination before grant ...................... 66
101........ Revocation of patent--re‑examination after grant ............................ 67
Chapter 9A--Examination, re‑examination and opposition‑innovation patents 68
Part 1--Examination of innovation patents 68
101A..... Examination may be requested or Commissioner may decide to examine 68
101B..... Examination of an innovation patent ................................................ 68
101C..... How and when examination to be carried out ................................... 69
101D..... Commissioner to be given information on searches .......................... 70
101E...... Certificate of examination ................................................................. 70
101F...... Revocation of innovation patents following examination under section 101B 71
Part 2--Re‑examination of innovation patents 72
101G..... Re‑examination of complete specifications of innovation patents ... 72
101H..... Patentee statements .......................................................................... 72
101J...... Revocation of innovation patent following re‑examination .............. 73
101K..... Relevant proceedings and re‑examination ......................................... 73
101L...... Copies of report to be given to court ............................................... 74
Part 3--Opposition to innovation patents 75
101M.... Opposition to innovation patent ...................................................... 75
101N..... Hearing and decision by the Commissioner ...................................... 75
101P...... Relevant proceedings and opposition ............................................... 76
Chapter 10--Amendments 77
Part 1--Amendments that are not allowable 77
102........ What amendments are not allowable? ............................................... 77
103........ Consent of mortgagee or exclusive licensee needed .......................... 78
Part 2--Amendments of patent requests, specifications and other filed documents 79
104........ Amendments by applicants and patentees ....................................... 79
105........ Amendments directed by court ........................................................ 80
106........ Amendments directed by Commissioner: patents ............................ 80
107........ Amendments directed by Commissioner: applications for standard patents 81
109........ Appeal .............................................................................................. 82
Part 3--Miscellaneous 83
110........ Advertisement of amendment of complete specification ................. 83
112........ Pending proceedings ......................................................................... 83
113........ Persons claiming under assignment or agreement ............................. 83
114........ Priority date of certain amended claims ............................................ 83
114A..... Objection cannot be taken to certain amended claims ...................... 84
115........ Restriction on recovery of damages etc. ........................................... 84
116........ Interpretation of amended specifications ......................................... 84
Chapter 11--Infringement 85
Part 1--Infringement and infringement proceedings 85
117........ Infringement by supply of products ................................................ 85
118........ Infringement exemptions: use in or on foreign vessels, aircraft or vehicles 85
119........ Infringement exemptions: prior use .................................................. 86
119A..... Infringement exemptions: acts for obtaining regulatory approval of pharmaceuticals 87
120........ Infringement proceedings .................................................................. 88
121........ Counter‑claim for revocation of patent ............................................ 89
121A..... Burden of proof--infringement of patent for a process ................... 89
122........ Relief for infringement of patent ...................................................... 90
123........ Innocent infringement ....................................................................... 90
Part 2--Non‑infringement declarations 92
124........ Interpretation .................................................................................... 92
125........ Application for non‑infringement declaration .................................. 92
126........ Proceedings for non‑infringement declarations ................................. 92
127........ Effect of non‑infringement declarations ............................................ 93
Part 3--Unjustified threats of infringement proceedings 94
128........ Application for relief from unjustified threats ................................. 94
129........ Court's power to grant relief if threats related to a standard patent or standard patent application 94
129A..... Threats related to an innovation patent application or innovation patent and court's power to grant relief 94
130........ Counter‑claim for infringement ......................................................... 95
131........ Notification of patent not a threat .................................................... 96
132........ Liability of legal practitioner or patent attorney .............................. 96
Chapter 12--Compulsory licences and revocation of patents 97
133........ Compulsory licences ........................................................................ 97
134........ Revocation of patent after grant of compulsory licence ................... 99
135........ Reasonable requirements of the public ............................................. 99
136........ Orders to be consistent with international agreements ................... 100
136A..... Dealing with allegation of contravention of application law .......... 100
137........ Revocation on surrender of patent ................................................. 100
138........ Revocation of patents in other circumstances ................................ 101
139........ Parties to proceedings ..................................................................... 101
140........ Commissioner to be given copies of orders .................................... 102
Chapter 13--Withdrawal and lapsing of applications and ceasing of patents 103
141........ Withdrawal of applications [see also Table B] .............................. 103
142........ Lapsing of applications [see also Table B] .................................... 103
143........ Ceasing of patents .......................................................................... 104
143A..... Ceasing of innovation patents ........................................................ 104
143B..... Payment of fees .............................................................................. 104
Chapter 14--Contracts 105
144........ Void conditions ............................................................................... 105
145........ Termination of contract after patent ceases to be in force ............. 106
146........ Effect of Chapter ............................................................................ 106
Chapter 15--Special provisions relating to associated technology 107
147........ Certificate by Director as to associated technology ....................... 107
148........ Lapsing etc. of applications ............................................................ 107
149........ Revocation of direction ................................................................... 108
150........ Restoration of lapsed application ................................................... 108
151........ Reinstatement of application as an international application ......... 109
152........ Notice of prohibitions or restrictions on publication ..................... 110
153........ Effect of order ................................................................................. 110
Chapter 16--Jurisdiction and powers of courts 112
154........ Jurisdiction of Federal Court .......................................................... 112
155........ Jurisdiction of other prescribed courts ........................................... 112
156........ Exercise of jurisdiction .................................................................... 112
157........ Transfer of proceedings .................................................................. 113
158........ Appeals .......................................................................................... 113
159........ Commissioner may appear in appeals ............................................ 113
160........ Powers of Federal Court ................................................................. 114
Chapter 17--The Crown 115
Part 1--Introductory 115
161........ Nominated persons and patentees .................................................. 115
162........ Commonwealth and State authorities ............................................. 115
Part 2--Exploitation by the Crown 116
163........ Exploitation of inventions by Crown ............................................. 116
164........ Nominated person or patentee to be informed of exploitation ....... 116
165........ Remuneration and terms for exploitation ....................................... 117
165A..... Exploitation of invention to cease under court order ...................... 117
166........ Previous agreements inoperative .................................................... 117
167........ Sale of products .............................................................................. 118
168........ Supply of products by Commonwealth to foreign countries ......... 118
169........ Declarations that inventions have been exploited ........................... 118
170........ Sale of forfeited articles .................................................................. 119
Part 3--Acquisitions by and assignments to the Crown 120
171........ Acquisition of inventions or patents by Commonwealth .............. 120
172........ Assignment of invention to Commonwealth .................................. 120
Part 4--Prohibition orders 121
173........ Prohibition of publication of information about inventions ........... 121
174........ Effect of prohibition orders ............................................................ 121
175........ Disclosure of information to Commonwealth authority ................ 122
176........ International applications treated as applications under this Act .. 122
Chapter 18--Miscellaneous offences 123
177........ False representations about the Patent Office ................................ 123
178........ False representations about patents or patented articles ............... 123
179........ Failure to comply with summons ................................................... 124
180........ Refusal to give evidence .................................................................. 124
181........ Failure to produce documents or articles ........................................ 125
182........ Officers not to traffic in inventions ................................................ 125
183........ Unauthorised disclosure of information by employees etc. ........... 125
184........ Other unauthorised disclosures of information .............................. 126
185........ Commissioner etc. not to prepare documents or search records .... 126
Chapter 19--The Register and official documents 127
186........ Register of Patents .......................................................................... 127
187........ Registration of particulars of patents etc. ...................................... 127
188........ Trusts not registrable ...................................................................... 128
189........ Power of patentee to deal with patent ........................................... 128
190........ Inspection of Register ..................................................................... 128
191........ False entries in Register .................................................................. 128
192........ Orders for rectification of Register ................................................. 129
193........ Inspection of documents ................................................................ 129
194........ Information obtainable from Commissioner ................................... 129
195........ Evidence--the Register ................................................................... 130
196........ Evidence--unregistered particulars ................................................ 130
197........ Evidence--certificate and copies of documents ............................. 130
Chapter 20--Patent Attorneys 131
Part 1--Registration, privileges and professional conduct 131
198........ Registration of patent attorneys ..................................................... 131
199........ Deregistration ................................................................................. 132
200........ Privileges ......................................................................................... 132
200A..... Designated Manager ....................................................................... 133
Part 2--Offences 134
201........ Offences: unregistered persons etc. ................................................ 134
202........ Documents prepared by legal practitioners .................................... 135
202A..... Documents prepared by a member of a partnership ...................... 136
203........ Attendance at patent attorney's office ........................................... 136
204........ Time for starting prosecutions ....................................................... 136
Chapter 21--Administration 137
205........ Patent Office and sub‑offices ......................................................... 137
206........ Patent Office seal ............................................................................ 137
207........ Commissioner of Patents ................................................................ 137
208........ Deputy Commissioner of Patents .................................................. 137
209........ Delegation of Commissioner's powers and functions .................... 138
210........ Commissioner's powers ................................................................. 138
211........ Recovery of costs awarded by Commissioner ............................... 138
Chapter 22--Miscellaneous 139
212........ Copies of examination reports to be communicated ....................... 139
213........ Making and signing applications etc. .............................................. 139
214........ Filing of documents ........................................................................ 139
215........ Death of applicant or nominated person ........................................ 139
216........ Exercise of discretionary power by Commissioner ........................ 140
217........ Assessors ........................................................................................ 140
218........ Costs where patent invalid in part ................................................. 140
219........ Security for costs ............................................................................ 140
220........ Costs of attendance of patent attorney .......................................... 140
221........ Service of documents ...................................................................... 141
222........ Publication of Official Journal etc. ................................................. 141
222A..... Doing act when Patent Office reopens after end of period otherwise provided for doing act 141
223........ Extensions of time [see also Table B] ............................................ 142
224........ Review of decisions ........................................................................ 144
225........ Conduct of employees and agents of natural persons .................... 145
226........ Reproduction of published specifications does not infringe copyright 146
227........ Fees ................................................................................................. 146
227A..... Professional Standards Board for Patent and Trade Marks Attorneys 147
228........ Regulations ..................................................................................... 149
229........ Consequential amendments ............................................................ 153
230........ Repeal ............................................................................................. 153
Chapter 23--Transitional and savings provisions 154
231........ Application of Part III of 1989 Amending Act .............................. 154
233........ Patents granted under 1952 Act ..................................................... 154
234........ Applications under 1952 Act ......................................................... 154
235........ Other applications and proceedings under 1952 Act ..................... 155
236........ Micro‑organisms ............................................................................. 156
237........ Orders, directions etc. under 1952 Act .......................................... 156
238........ The Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner ............................. 156
239........ The Register of Patents and Register of Patent Attorneys ............ 156
240........ Registered patent attorneys ............................................................ 156
Schedule 1--Dictionary 157
Schedule 2--Consequential Amendments 167
Notes 169
An Act relating to patents of inventions
Note 1 The Patents Act 1990 as shown in this compilation
comprises Act No. 83, 1990 amended as indicated in the Tables below. For application, saving or transitional provisions made by the
Corporations (Repeals, Consequentials and Transitionals) Act 2001, see
Act No. 55, 2001. All relevant information pertaining to application, saving or
transitional provisions prior to 27 July 1998 is not included in this
compilation. For subsequent information see Table A. The Patents Act 1990 was modified by the Patents
Regulations 1991 (1991 No. 71 as amended by 1995 No. 16; 1999 No. 261;
2001 No. 98; 2003 No. 316; 2004 Nos. 193 and 395) see
Table B. Table of Acts
|
Act |
Number |
Date |
Date of commencement |
Application, saving or transitional provisions |
|
83, 1990 |
30 Oct 1990 |
30 Apr 1991 |
|
|
|
Industry, Technology and Commerce Legislation Amendment Act 1991 |
66, 1991 |
15 June 1991 |
S. 26: (a) |
-- |
|
Industry, Technology and Regional Development Legislation Amendment Act 1994 |
58, 1994 |
9 Apr 1994 |
29 June 1994 (see Gazette 1994, No. S211) |
-- |
|
Industry, Science and Technology Legislation Amendment Act 1994 |
108, 1994 |
12 July 1994 |
Div. 2 of Part 2 (ss. 4--6): 9 Aug 1994 |
-- |
|
154, 1994 |
13 Dec 1994 |
|||
|
100, 1998 |
27 July 1998 |
Schedules 1 and 2: 27 Jan 1999 |
Sch. 1 (item 8), |
|
|
Public Employment (Consequential and Transitional) Amendment Act 1999 |
146, 1999 |
11 Nov 1999 |
Schedule 1 (items 728--730): 5 Dec 1999 (see Gazette 1999, No. S584) (b) |
-- |
|
140, 2000 |
24 Nov 2000 |
24 May 2001 |
Sch. 2 (am. by 99, 2001, Sch. 2) [see Table A] |
|
|
as amended by |
|
|
|
|
|
99, 2001 |
22 Aug 2001 |
Schedule 2: (c) |
-- |
|
|
48, 2003 |
26 June 2003 |
Schedule 2 (item 8): (ca) |
-- |
|
|
Corporations (Repeals, Consequentials and Transitionals) Act 2001 |
55, 2001 |
28 June 2001 |
Ss. 4--14 and Schedule 3 (item 401): 15 July 2001 (see Gazette 2001, No. S285) (d) |
|
|
Industry, Science and Resources Legislation Amendment (Application of Criminal Code) Act 2001 |
140, 2001 |
1 Oct 2001 |
2 Oct 2001 |
S. 4 [see Table A] |
|
160, 2001 |
1 Oct 2001 |
Schedule 1: 1 Apr 2002 |
Sch. 1 (items 13, 32, 33) [see Table A] |
|
|
48, 2003 |
26 June 2003 |
Schedule 1 (item 2): 24 July 2003 |
Sch. 2 (item 5) [see Table A] |
|
|
120, 2004 |
16 Aug 2004 |
Schedule 8: Royal Assent |
Sch. 8 (item 3) [see Table A] |
|
|
100, 2005 |
6 July 2005 |
Schedule 1 (items 31--37): (f) |
-- |
|
|
106, 2006 |
27 Sept 2006 |
Schedules 5, 6, 8 and 9: 28 Sept 2006 |
Sch. 5 (item 2), Sch. 6 (item 2), Sch. 7 (item 4), Sch. 8 (item 9), Sch. 9 (item 2) and Sch. 10 (item 3) [see Table A] |
(a) Subsection 2(4) of the Industry, Technology and Commerce Legislation Amendment Act 1991 provides as follows:
(4) The amendments of the Patents Act 1990 are taken to commence, or to have commenced, immediately after the commencement of the Patents Act 1990.
(b) The Patents Act 1990 was amended by Schedule 1 (items 728--730) only of the Public Employment (Consequential and Transitional) Amendment Act 1999, subsections 2(1) and (2) of which provide as follows:
(1) In this Act, commencing time means the time when the Public Service Act 1999 commences.
(2) Subject to this section, this Act commences at the commencing time.
(c) The Patents Amendment (Innovation Patents) Act 2000 was amended by Schedule 2 only of the Trade Marks and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2001, subsection 2(3) of which provides as follows:
(3) Schedule 2 commences, or is taken to have commenced, immediately after the commencement of the Patents Amendment (Innovation Patents) Act 2000.
The Patents Amendment (Innovation Patents) Act 2000 came into operation on 24 May 2001.
(ca) Subsection 2(1) (item 5) of the Intellectual Property Laws Amendment Act 2003 provides as follows:
(1) Each provision of this Act specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, on the day or at the time specified in column 2 of the table.
|
Commencement information |
||
|
Column 1 |
Column 2 |
Column 3 |
|
Pro | ||