Raising the Bar Bill will encourage innovation

The Government’s Raising the Bar Bill will encourage medical innovation and bring Australia’s IP system into line with IP systems in other OECD countries, Medicines Australia’s acting chief executive Andrew Bruce said today.

The Bill was introduced into the Senate today by Innovation Minister Kim Carr.

Mr Bruce said a “research use exemption” for which the Bill provides will directly address concerns in some quarters that patents on biological materials can potentially stifle scientific research.

“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,” Mr Bruce said.

“The Bill will raise the threshold of patentability for all fields of technology, ensuring that Australian patents can stand up to scrutiny in any jurisdiction around the world.

“Robust IP laws that encourage the development of new technologies are extremely important to innovative industries such as the Australian Medicines Industry.

“Intellectual property drives innovation, so a strong IP system is critically important to Australia. That is what this Bill delivers.”

Mr Bruce said the Government’s Raising the Bar Bill is more balanced and constructive than the Private Members’ Bill on Gene Patents, which would undermine Australia’s IP system and which is currently the subject of an inquiry by the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee.

The Raising the Bar Bill received support from industry, researchers and consumers in their submissions to that inquiry.

“The Government’s Bill will better serve innovators, research scientists and the Australian community. We therefore urge the Parliament to pass the Bill without delay,” Mr Bruce said.

–ENDS–

Contact Person:

Jamie Nicholson
Media Communications Manager
Phone: 0419 220 293
Email: Jamie.Nicholson@medicinesaustralia.com.au