Posted by Michael Wonder on 24 Jan 2017
Government seeks further comment on Productivity Commission's intellectual property report
24 January 2017 - The Federal Government has invited stakeholder views after releasing the final report on the Productivity Commission’s inquiry into Australia's intellectual property arrangements.
The report contains many areas of concern and AusBiotech seeks member comment to contribute to an industry submission.
The Government is reviewing the previous submissions to the Productivity Commission and considering its response to the report, with further comment due by 14 February 2017.
The key concerns include the recommendations to reform the ‘inventive step’, the recommendation to seriously limit patent term extensions, the proposed review of TRIPS and the abolition of innovation patents. The suggestion that “renewal fees are underutilised” as a policy lever, may result in increased costs, which would adversely impact SMEs. There is a continued lack of recognition of the difference between a generic and a biologic in the report and concerns that the presentation of selective data ‘paints’ the value of the patent system as a community cost.
