PATENT OFFICE’S FUNCTIONS

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25551, 20 July 1948, Page 3

PATENT OFFICE’S FUNCTIONS

INQUIRIES TO ENSURE NOVELTY (P.A.) WELLINGTON. July 19. The evolution of the New Zealand Patent Office from a place of registry to an organisation having additionally the duty of investigating new patent applications with a view to ensuring their novelty was described in a statement presented by the Patent Office when the commission inquiring into patent law and procedure resumed its sittings to-day. The system of thorough technical examination of patent applications was of comparatively recent development, the statement said. A considerable backing-up of work*in recent years had followed a spate of inventions, most of them of a technical nature, during the war. and had made investigation by experts a necessity. “While the technical examination of all patent applications has been adopted as the policy of patent administration in New Zealand, there is no statutory provision in the present Patents Designs, and Trade Marks Act that renders the making of such an examination obligatory.” the statement said.

“The commission may. if it so sees fit, consider whether in future legislation the examination as to novelty should be made mandatory as it is in the equivalent British act.” CHANGE OF DEPARTMENT SUGGESTED I P.A.) / WELLINGTON. July 19. A submission that the Patent Office be transferred from the Department of Justice to the Department of Industries and Commerce is to be made to the commission of inquiry into patent taw and procedure. Mr W. J. Sim K.C., appearing for the New Zealand Radio Manufacturers’ Company, intimated this at a sitting to-day when questioning the Commissioner of Patents <Mr A. H. Ihle). “What is your view on the matter? he asked Mr Ihle. Mr Ihle: My personal view is that the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research would be of more help than the Department of Industries and Commerce. You are not averse to the severing of the Patent Office from the Department of Justice?—No.