Trans-Tasman patent attorney regime

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and IP Australia are developing a trans-Tasman patent attorney regime. This initiative is part of the Single Economic Market (SEM) outcomes framework, which aims to create a seamless trans-Tasman business environment.

The majority of Australian and New Zealand patent attorneys are registered in both countries. The regime will provide economies of scale, saving time money and effort for the profession as a whole.

Bilateral arrangement

In March 2013 Australia and New Zealand signed a bilateral arrangement for implementing the trans-Tasman patent attorney regime. The regime will provide a single system of accreditation, registration and professional regulation of patent attorneys in both countries.

The bilateral arrangement is based on Cabinet decisions made in November 2011. The arrangement is to be implemented in legislation, expected to be introduced into the Australian and New Zealand parliaments this year.

Background

Public feedback was sought on a discussion paper concerning a single trans-Taman regulatory framework for patent attorneys. Submissions on the discussion document closed in May 2011. In November 2011 Cabinet agreed that the patent attorney profession should be regulated jointly with Australia under a trans-Tasman regime.

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