1. Introduction
1. This paper summarises the submissions received on the Ministry of Economic Development's discussion document Boundaries to Patentability (the "discussion document"). It is not intended to provide detailed analysis of every submission received.
2. This discussion document was released as part of Stage 3 of the review of the Patents Act 1953 and sought public input on the following issues:
- the definition of patentable invention and whether or not there should be exclusions to patentability;
- Māori concerns regarding the patenting of biotechnological inventions;
- the patentability of biotechnological inventions;
- the patentability of computer software and business methods;
- whether or not methods of medical treatment of humans should be patentable;
- the stringency with which the criteria for patentability are applied.
3. A list of the questions asked in the discussion paper is attached to this report as Appendix 2.
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