- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - TABLE OF PROVISIONS
- TABLE OF PROVISIONS
- CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTORY
- CHAPTER 2 - PATENT RIGHTS, OWNERSHIP AND VALIDITY
- CHAPTER 3 - FROM APPLICATION TO ACCEPTANCE
- CHAPTER 4 - PUBLICATION
- CHAPTER 5 - OPPOSITION
- CHAPTER 6 - GRANT AND TERM OF PATENTS
- CHAPTER 7 - PATENTS OF ADDITION
- CHAPTER 8 - PCT APPLICATIONS AND CONVENTION APPLICATIONS
- CHAPTER 9 - RE-EXAMINATION
- CHAPTER 10 - AMENDMENTS
- CHAPTER 11 - INFRINGEMENT
- CHAPTER 12 - COMPULSORY LICENCES AND REVOCATION OF PATENTS
- CHAPTER 13 - WITHDRAWAL AND LAPSING OF APPLICATIONS AND CEASING OFPATENTS
- CHAPTER 14 - CONTRACTS
- CHAPTER 15 - SPECIAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO ASSOCIATEDTECHNOLOGY
- CHAPTER 16 - JURISDICTION AND POWERS OF COURTS
- CHAPTER 17 - THE CROWN
- CHAPTER 18 - MISCELLANEOUS OFFENCES
- CHAPTER 19 - THE REGISTER AND OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS
- CHAPTER 20 - PATENT ATTORNEYS
- CHAPTER 21 - ADMINISTRATION
- CHAPTER 22 - MISCELLANEOUS
- CHAPTER 23 - TRANSITIONAL AND SAVINGS
- SCHEDULE 1
- SCHEDULE 2
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - LONG TITLE
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - CHAPTER 1
- CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTORY
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 1
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 2
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 3
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 4
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 5
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 6
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 7
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 8
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 9
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 10
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 11
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 12
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - CHAPTER 2
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - CHAPTER 3
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - PART 1
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - DIVISION 1
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 29
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 30
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 31
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 32
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 33
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 34
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 35
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 36
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 37
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 38
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 39
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - DIVISION 2
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - DIVISION 3
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - PART 2
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - DIVISION 1
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - DIVISION 2
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - PART 3
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - CHAPTER 4
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - CHAPTER 5
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - CHAPTER 6
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - PART 1
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - PART 2
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - PART 3
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - DIVISION 1
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - DIVISION 2
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 70
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 71
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 72
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 73
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 74
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 75
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 76
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 77
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 78
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 79
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - CHAPTER 7
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 80
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 81
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 82
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 83
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 84
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 85
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 86
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 87
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - CHAPTER 8
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - PART 1
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - PART 2
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - CHAPTER 9
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - CHAPTER 10
- CHAPTER 10 - AMENDMENTS
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - PART 1
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - PART 2
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - PART 3
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - CHAPTER 11
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - PART 1
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - PART 2
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - PART 3
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - CHAPTER 12
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 133
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 134
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 135
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 136
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 137
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 138
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 139
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 140
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - CHAPTER 13
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - CHAPTER 14
- CHAPTER 15 - SPECIAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO ASSOCIATEDTECHNOLOGY
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - CHAPTER 16
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - CHAPTER 17
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - PART 1
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - PART 2
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 163
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 164
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 165
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 166
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 167
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 168
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 169
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 170
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - PART 3
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - PART 4
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - CHAPTER 18
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 177
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 178
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 179
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 180
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 181
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 182
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 183
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 184
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 185
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - CHAPTER 19
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 186
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 187
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 188
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 189
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 190
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 191
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 192
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 193
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 194
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 195
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 196
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 197
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - CHAPTER 20
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - CHAPTER 21
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - CHAPTER 22
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 212
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 213
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 214
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 215
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 216
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 217
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 218
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 219
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 220
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 221
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 222
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 223
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 224
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 225
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 226
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 227
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 228
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 229
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 230
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - CHAPTER 23
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 231
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 232
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 233
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 234
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 235
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 236
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 237
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 238
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 239
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 240
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SCHEDULE 1
- PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SCHEDULE 2
PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990
PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - TABLE OF PROVISIONS TABLE OF PROVISIONS
Section
CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTORY declaration Division 2 - Matters not affecting validity CHAPTER 11 - INFRINGEMENT PART 1 - INFRINGEMENT AND INFRINGEMENT PROCEEDINGS
CHAPTER 13 - WITHDRAWAL AND LAPSING OF APPLICATIONS AND CEASING OF PATENTS CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS
PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - LONG TITLE
An Act relating to patents of inventions
PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - CHAPTER 1 CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTORY
PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 1 Short title
(Assented to 30 October 1990)
1. This Act may be cited as the Patents Act 1990.
(Minister's second reading speech made in- Senate on 29 May 1990
House of Representatives on 10 October 1990)
PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 2 Commencement
2. (1) Subject to subsection (2), this Act commences on a day to be fixed by Proclamation.
(2) If this Act does not commence under subsection (1) within the period of 6 months beginning on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent, it commences on the first day after the end of that period.
PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 3 Definitions
3. The following expressions are defined, for the purposes of this Act or of a particular Chapter of this Act, in the dictionary in Schedule 1: application approved form associated technology Australia Australian continental shelf authority basic application Budapest Treaty claim commencing day Commissioner compensable person complete specification compulsory licence Continental Shelf Convention Convention applicant Convention application Convention country deposit requirements depositary institution Deputy Commissioner Director divisional application eligible person employee examination exclusive licensee exploit Federal Court file foreign aircraft foreign land vehicle foreign vessel infringement proceedings interested party international application international depositary authority international filing date invention legal practitioner legal representative licence main invention marketing approval marketing approval certificate modified examination nominated person non-infringement declaration Official Journal patent patent application patent area patent of addition Patent Office patent request patentable invention patented process patented product patentee PCT PCT application permit petty patent pharmaceutical substance prescribed court prescribed depositary institution prior art base prior art information prohibition order provisional specification
receiving Office re-examination Register registered relevant authority relevant international application relevant proceedings rules relating to micro-organisms Safeguards Act sealed specification standard patent State Statute of Monopolies supply Territory therapeutic use this Act work 1952 Act 1989 Amending Act.
PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 4 What are typical steps in getting and maintaining a patent?
4. The following tables contain charts showing most of the typical steps involved in getting and maintaining a standard patent and petty patent. The charts are intended for use only as general introductory illustrations and are not intended to have any other effect. If there is any inconsistency between any matter contained in the charts and a provision of this Act or the
regulations, the provision prevails. TABLE 1 - GETTING AND MAINTAINING A STANDARD PATENT - OMITTED TABLE 2 - GETTING AND MAINTAINING A PETTY PATENT - OMITTED
PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 5 Associated applications
5. For the purposes of this Act, a complete application is to be taken to be associated with a provisional application if, and only if, the patent request filed in respect of the complete application identifies the provisional application and contains a statement to the effect that the applications are associated.
(Note: see sections 29 and 38)
PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 6 Deposit requirements
6. For the purposes of this Act, the deposit requirements are to be taken to be satisfied in relation to a micro-organism to which a specification relates if, and only if: (ii) the date on which the relevant deposit was made; and
(iii) the file, accession or registration number of the deposit given by the institution; and
(d) at all times since the date of filing of the specification, samples of the micro-organism have been obtainable from a prescribed depositary institution as provided by those rules.
(Note: see sections 41 and 42)
PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 7 Novelty and inventive step
7. (1) For the purposes of this Act, an invention is to be taken to be novel when compared with the prior art base unless it is not novel in the light of any one of the following kinds of information, each of which must be considered separately: Back to Top of the common general knowledge as it existed in the patent area before the priority date of the relevant claim, whether that knowledge is considered separately or together with either of the kinds of information mentioned in subsection (3), each of which must be considered separately. (Notes: (1) For the meaning of "document" see section 25 of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901.
(Notes: (2) See also the definitions of "prior art base" and "prior art information" in Schedule 1: see also paragraph 18 (1) (b) and subsection 98 (1).)
PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 8 Disclosure in basic applications
8. Subject to the regulations, account must not be taken, for the purposes of this Act, of a disclosure in a specification or other document filed in respect of, and at the same time as, a basic application unless the following documents are filed within the prescribed period: the specification or document into English. (Note: "basic application" is defined in Schedule 1: see also Part 2 of Chapter 8.)
PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 9 Secret use
9. For the purposes of this Act, the following acts are not to be taken to be secret use of an invention in the patent area: PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 10 Certain international applications to be taken to have been given an international filing date 10. (1) Where: PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 11 Act binds the Crown
11. (1) This Act binds the Crown in right of the Commonwealth, of each of the States, of the Australian Capital Territory, of the Northern Territory and
of Norfolk Island.
(2) Nothing in this Act makes the Crown liable to be prosecuted for an offence.
PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 12 Application of Act
12. This Act extends to: PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - CHAPTER 2 CHAPTER 2 - PATENT RIGHTS, OWNERSHIP AND VALIDITY
PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - PART 1 PART 1 - PATENT RIGHTS
PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 13 Exclusive rights given by patent
13. (1) Subject to this Act, a patent gives the patentee the exclusive rights, during the term of the patent, to exploit the invention and to authorise another person to exploit the invention. PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 14 Assignment of patent
14. (1) An assignment of a patent must be in writing signed by or on behalf of the assignor and assignee.
(2) A patent may be assigned for a place in, or part of, the patent area.
PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - PART 2 PART 2 - OWNERSHIP
PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 15 Who may be granted a patent?
15. (1) Subject to this Act, a patent for an invention may only be granted to a person who: PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 16 Co-ownership of patents
16. (1) Subject to any agreement to the contrary, where there are 2 or more patentees: PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 17 Directions to co-owners
17. (1) Where there are 2 or more patentees, the Commissioner may, on the application of any of them, give such directions in accordance with the application as the Commissioner thinks fit, being directions about: subsection (1) - to the other patentee or patentees; and PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - PART 3 PART 3 - VALIDITY
PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - DIVISION 1 Division 1 - Validity
PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 18 Patentable inventions
18. (1) Subject to subsection (2), a patentable invention is an invention that, so far as claimed in any claim: PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 19 Certificate of validity
19. (1) In any proceedings in a court in which the validity of a patent, or of a claim, is disputed, the court may certify that the validity of a specified claim was questioned. PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 20 Validity of patent not guaranteed
20. (1) Nothing done under this Act or the PCT guarantees the granting of a patent, or that a patent is valid, in Australia or anywhere else.
(2) The Commonwealth, the Commissioner, a Deputy Commissioner, or an employee, is not liable because of, or in connection with, doing any act under this Act or the PCT, or any proceedings consequent on doing any such act.
PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 21 Validity not implied by making or refusal of non-infringement declaration
21. The making of, or refusal to make, a non-infringement declaration in respect of a claim of a patent does not imply that the claim is valid.
PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - DIVISION 2 Division 2 - Matters not affecting validity
PATENTS ACT 1990 No. 83, 1990 - SECT 22 Invalidity in relation to one claim not to affect validity in relation to other claims