Heads together for IP
6 Mar 2013
A Memorandum of Understanding between the Australian and Chinese Intellectual Property Offices will forge a closer relationship between the two offices on patent matters.
The Director General of IP Australia, Philip Noonan, and the Commissioner of the State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO) of the People's Republic of China, Tian Lipu, signed the Memorandum for continuing cooperation between the two offices on 25 February 2013.
"I welcomed the opportunity of meeting with Mr Tian to discuss a range of issues that are important to both countries. This includes patent quality management and work-sharing, particularly the online patent work-sharing platform, WIPO-CASE, created by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the Vancouver Group countries comprising Australia, Canada and the UK. We also discussed SIPO's proposed Cloud Patent Examination Solution, which also seems to provide a very useful basis for cooperation between different IP Offices".
"In addition to the value of information sharing between our Offices, we also talked about legal reforms occurring in both countries. On 15 April, when the remaining provisions of the Intellectual Property Laws Amendment (Raising the Bar) Act come into effect, Australia's patentability tests will be similar to the large IP Offices, including China," said Mr Noonan. "This should make it more straightforward for Australian technology exporters to secure a patent in China," said Mr Noonan.
"Australia cooperates with intellectual property offices around the world. We strive to not only foster innovation but also to streamline work practices between countries, so as to reduce costs for innovators", said Mr Noonan.
As part of their visit to Australia, the Chinese delegation toured the Garvan Institute of Medical Research, a world leader in biomedical research, and Commerical Development and Industry Partnership at the University of Sydney. These tours provided the delegation with a unique understanding of how Australian inventors and industries use the intellectual property system to support competitive commercial technologies and businesses.
At the Garvan Institute, pictured from left to right, are: Dr Kip DUDGEON (Business Development Associate, Garvan Institute); Ms Fatima BEATTIE (Deputy Director General, IP Australia); Mr Philip NOONAN (Director General, IP Australia); Ms Christina HARDY (Director, Business and Legal Affairs, Garvan Institute); Mr TIAN Lipu (Commissioner, SIPO); Ms FENG Xiaobing (Deputy Director General, International Cooperation Department, SIPO); Mr LI Shengjun (Deputy Director General, General Affair Office, SIPO); and Ms ZENG Yanni (Director, Division 3, International Cooperation Department, SIPO).
NB: Surnames are capitalised.
Last Updated: 15/9/2012
