Australian patent office seeks comments on patents and experimental use

In Australia, an Advisory Council on Intellectual Property (ACIP) is seeking comments on patents and experimental use.

Specifically:

“To examine whether some types of patents are inhibiting research and development in Australia and determine whether both Australian researchers and business would benefit from introducing an experimental use exception provision (or some other provision) into the Australian patent legislation. In examining this question, ACIP should consider whether an experimental use exemption would help researchers more effectively use the patent system to commercialise their research and development.”

The relevant dates are:

ACIP expects to circulate an Issues Paper in February 2004 with a request for written submissions by 30 April 2004 and plans to hold consultations during May 2004.

The website states that a registration was due by 12-15-03, but it is not clear if that is a firm deadline.

See the link here.