New IP legislation will encourage medical research in Australia, says trade group

New legislation overhauling the Australian patent system will encourage medical research and bring Australia into line with intellectual property systems in other OECD countries, says Medicines Australia chief executive Brendan Shaw.

The Raising the Bar Bill, which was finally passed in Federal Parliament on Monday night (March 19), introduces a “research use exemption” which will allow scientists to conduct research on patented inventions without infringing those patents. The bill was passed by the Senate on February 27.

“This Bill makes it absolutely clear that scientists are free to conduct research on patented inventions, so long as the purpose of that research is investigation and not the infringement of valid patents,” Dr Shaw said, adding: “It serves to allay concerns that patents can potentially stifle scientific research.”