Sabin Mike: Patents Bill — Second Reading 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Sabin Mike: Patents Bill — Second Reading 
[Sitting date: 12 September 2012. Volume:683;Page:5170. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
MIKE SABIN (National—Northland) 
: 
 I will take a short call on this bill the Patents Bill. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: What’s that on his tie? 
MIKE SABIN 
: It is Homer Simpson Mr Mallard a very well-known— 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: The member’s hero. 
MIKE SABIN 
: He is reacting in quite the way I am sure he did on election night. Let us stick to the task at hand shall we. 
I will take a short call on the Patents Bill which updates and replaces the Patents Act of 1953. The members opposite have alluded to the fact that there was significant political consensus on the bill in its early passage through the Commerce Committee and they have traversed the concerns they raised with regard to Supplementary Order Paper 120 from the Hon Craig Foss. I do not intend to cover that any more other than to say that I am sure that as this matter moves further through the Committee stage members on both sides of the House will work diligently to ensure that the right outcome is achieved in the interests of New Zealand because this bill very much goes to the heart of growing the economy through the innovation that New Zealand has become so known for. In fact this bill and its updates do reflect the commitment that this Government has to growing the economy and supporting our innovative sector as one of our four key priorities to grow a more productive and competitive economy and providing that platform through this bill is a very good example of that. 
One of the very important aspects if I can talk in just broad terms is the fact that patent rights granted in New Zealand can in fact be somewhat broader than those of other countries for the same invention which does place New Zealand at something of a disadvantage. This bill really aims to strengthen the criteria for granting— 
Clare Curran 
: No it doesn’t. It’ll end up in the courts. 
MIKE SABIN 
: Well on this side of the House we think it does. You are quite entitled to object to that of course and I am sure you will—not you Mr Speaker but that member. 
Clare Curran 
: Have you read it? 
MIKE SABIN 
: I have read the bill—certainly the relevant parts I am going to speak to. What the bill does is bring New Zealand patent law into line with best practice international standards. It helps address concerns by Maori related to patents on major indigenous plants and animals and traditional knowledge. It takes account of international developments it simplifies procedures in terms of granting patents and it streamlines procedures for challenging the grant of a patent. So while it seems obvious that the Opposition members from the Labour benches have chosen to focus simply on the Supplementary Order Paper introduced by the Minister I think it is clear that there is a lot of other good work going on in this bill. I am certainly very comfortable to commend this bill to the House and to see that the good work that is going on here will be available to New Zealanders as it passes into law. Thank you.