Australia Passes Patent Overhaul Bill Allowing Research Use Exemption

Patent reform legislation approved by the Australian Parliament March 20 includes a “research use exemption,” allowing those who don’t hold the patent to conduct research on patented products without fear of prosecution for infringing those patents. It “strikes a balance between the rights of patentees and the rights of subsequent researchers,” sponsor Sen. Kim Carr (Victoria), minister for human services, said. The bill, expected to become law this month, amends a 1990 law.
International Medical Device Regulatory Monitor