Patents (Trans-Tasman Patent Attorneys and Other
Matters) Amendment Act 2016
Public Act  2016 No 89
Date of assent  21 November 2016
Commencement  see section 2
Contents
Page
1 Title 3
2 Commencement 3
3 Principal Act 3
Part 1
Amendment to principal Act relating to opposition to grant of
patent
4 Section 92 amended (Opposition to grant of patent) 3
Part 2
Amendments to principal Act including joint registration
regime with Australia for patent attorneys
5 New Part 6 inserted 3
Note
Changes authorised by subpart 2 of Part 2 of the Legislation Act 2012 have been made in this official reprint.
Note 4 at the end of this reprint provides a list of the amendments incorporated.
This Act is administered by the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment.Reprint
as at 24 February 2017
1Part 6
Joint registration regime with Australia for patent
attorneys
Preliminary provisions
268 Purpose of this Part 4
269 Interpretation of this Part 4
270 Meaning of ordinarily resident in New Zealand 6
Joint registration regime applies in New Zealand
271 Patent attorneys must comply with joint registration
regime6
272 Commissioner must provide information about joint
registration regime7
273 Interface with Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006 7
Offences and penalties
274 Offences: unregistered persons practising, etc, as patent
attorneys8
275 Exceptions for legal representatives and employees 9
276 Incorporated patent attorney must have patent attorney
director10
277 Documents prepared by lawyers 10
278 Documents prepared by member of partnership 11
279 Documents prepared by incorporated patent attorneys and
incorporated law firms11
280 Attendance at patent attorney’s office 12
281 Time limit for filing charging documents for offences 12
Provisions that apply if Disciplinary Tribunal and
Appeals Tribunal sit in Australia
282 Provisions that apply if Tribunals sit in Australia 12
Provisions that apply if Disciplinary Tribunal sits in New
Zealand
283 Provisions that apply if Disciplinary Tribunal sits in New
Zealand13
284 Issue of summons by Disciplinary Tribunal 13
285 Failure of witness to comply with summons 14
286 Other provisions about proceedings 15
Miscellaneous provisions
287 Territorial scope and jurisdiction 15
288 Rights of patent attorney over documents and client
property16
289 Investigations under Australian Acts 16
290 Regulations under this Part 16Patents (Trans-Tasman Patent Attorneys and Other
Matters) Amendment Act 2016Reprinted as at
24 February 2017
26 New Schedule 1AA inserted 16
7 Repeal of Patents Act 1953 16
8 Consequential amendments 17
Schedule 1
New Schedule 1AA inserted18
Schedule 2
Amendments to enactments19
The Parliament of New Zealand enacts as follows:
 
1 Title
This Act is the Patents (Trans-Tasman Patent Attorneys and Other Matters)
Amendment Act 2016.
2 Commencement
(1) Part 1 is deemed to have come into force on 13 September 2014.
(2) Part 2 comes into force on a date appointed by the Governor-General by Order
in Council, and different dates may be appointed for different provisions.
(3) If any provision of Part 2 is not in force at the close of 24 February 2017, it is
repealed on the day after that date.
Section 2(2): Part 2 brought into force, on 24 February 2017, by the Patents (Trans-Tasman Patent
Attorneys and Other Matters) Amendment Act 2016 Commencement Order 2017 (LI 2017/2).
3 Principal Act
This Act amends the Patents Act 2013 (the principal Act ).
Part 1
Amendment to principal Act relating to opposition to grant of patent
4 Section 92 amended (Opposition to grant of patent)
In section 92(1)(c), replace “subpart 2 (which relates to specification require-
ments)”  with “any provision of subpart 2 (which relates to specification re-
quirements) other than section 39(2)(a) (which requires claims to relate to 1 in-
vention only)”.
Part 2
Amendments to principal Act including joint registration regime
with Australia for patent attorneys
5 New Part 6 inserted
After Part 5, insert:Reprinted as at
24 February 2017Patents (Trans-Tasman Patent Attorneys and Other
Matters) Amendment Act 2016 Part 2 s 5
3Part 6
Joint registration regime with Australia for patent attorneys
Preliminary provisions
268 Purpose of this Part
The purpose of this Part is to regulate the provision of patent attorney services
by giving effect to the joint registration regime in accordance with the Arrange-
ment.
269 Interpretation of this Part
(1) In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires, —
Appeals Tribunal  means the Administrative Appeals Tribunal established by
section 5 of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975 (Aust)
Arrangement  means the arrangement entitled the Arrangement between the
Government of Australia and the Government of New Zealand Relating to
Trans-Tasman Regulation of Patent Attorneys  signed in March 2013, as pub-
lished by the Commissioner under section 272(2)
Australian Patents Act  means the Patents Act 1990 (Aust) (as amended by
Schedule 4 of the Intellectual Property Laws Amendment Act 2015 (Aust))
Board  means the body continued in existence as the Trans-Tasman IP Attor-
neys Board by section 227A of the Australian Patents Act
Code of Conduct  means —
(a) the code known as the Code of Conduct for Patent and Trade Marks At-
torneys 2013  made under the Australian Patents Act and the Trade
Marks Act 1995 (Aust) by the Professional Standards Board for Patent
and Trade Marks Attorneys (Aust); or
(b) the replacement for that code, or any subsequent code, that is issued by
the Board under the joint registration regime
company  means a company within the meaning of the Companies Act 1993
designated manager  has the same meaning as in section 200A of the Austral-
ian Patents Act
Disciplinary Tribunal  means the tribunal established by regulation 20.61 of
the Patents Regulations 1991 (Aust) and to be known as the Trans-Tasman IP
Attorneys Disciplinary Tribunal
incorporated law firm  has the same meaning as in section 6 of the Lawyers
and Conveyancers Act 2006
incorporated patent attorney  means a company that is registered as a patent
attorneyPart 2 s 5Patents (Trans-Tasman Patent Attorneys and Other
Matters) Amendment Act 2016Reprinted as at
24 February 2017
4joint registration regime  means the joint regime for patent attorneys to regis-
ter and practise in Australia and New Zealand as constituted by —
(a) Part 1 of Chapter 20 of the Australian Patents Act and any regulations
made for the purposes of that Part; and
(b) this Part; and
(c) any other Acts of the Parliament of Australia or New Zealand, and any
regulations made under them, that give effect to the Arrangement; and
(d) the Arrangement
lawyer  has the same meaning as in section 6 of the Lawyers and Conveyancers
Act 2006
limited partnership  means a limited partnership that is registered under sec-
tion 51 of the Limited Partnerships Act 2008
ordinarily resident in New Zealand  has the meaning given in section 270
patent attorney  or attorney  means an individual or a company that —
(a) carries on business in New Zealand or Australia or both; and
(b) undertakes patent attorney services
patent attorney director , in respect of an incorporated patent attorney, means
an individual who is both a registered patent attorney and a director of the com-
pany
patent attorney services  means the undertaking of any of the following ser-
vices in Australia or New Zealand, or both, for gain:
(a) applying for or obtaining a patent in Australia or New Zealand or else-
where on behalf of another person; and
(b) preparing or amending specifications or other documents for the pur-
poses of the patent law of Australia, New Zealand, or any other country
on behalf of another person; and
(c) giving advice (other than of a scientific or technical nature) as to the val-
idity of patents or their infringement —
and providing patent attorney services  has a corresponding meaning
professional misconduct  means —
(a) unsatisfactory professional conduct that involves a substantial or consis-
tent failure to reach reasonable standards of competence and diligence;
or
(b) any other conduct, whether occurring in connection with practice as an
attorney or otherwise, that shows that the attorney is not of good fame,
integrity, and character; or
(c) any contravention of a law that is declared by the joint registration re-
gime to be professional misconductReprinted as at
24 February 2017Patents (Trans-Tasman Patent Attorneys and Other
Matters) Amendment Act 2016 Part 2 s 5
5registered patent attorney  means an individual or a company that is regis-
tered as a patent attorney under the joint registration regime
unsatisfactory professional conduct  includes conduct, in connection with
practice as a registered patent attorney, that falls short of the standard of com-
petence, diligence, and behaviour that a member of the public is entitled to ex-
pect of an attorney.
(2) Any terms that are used but not defined in this Part, but defined in the joint
registration regime, have the meanings given in that regime.
(3) A reference in, or in any regulations made under, this Part to a repealed Aus-
tralian enactment is a reference to an Australian enactment that, with or with-
out modification, replaces, or corresponds to, the Australian enactment re-
pealed.
(4) Subsection (3) does not limit section 22 of the Interpretation Act 1999.
Compare: 2010 No 108 s 5; Patents Act 1990 s 198, Schedule 1 (Aust); Patents Regulations 1990
(Aust); Arrangement between the Government of Australia and the Government of New Zealand Re-
lating to Trans-Tasman Regulation of Patent Attorneys, 2013 cl 1
270 Meaning of ordinarily resident in New Zealand
(1) For the purposes of this Part, an individual is taken to be ordinarily resident
in New Zealand  if—
(a) the individual has his or her home in New Zealand; or
(b) New Zealand is the country of his or her permanent abode even though
he or she is temporarily absent from New Zealand.
(2) However, the individual is taken not to be ordinarily resident in New Zealand if
he or she resides in New Zealand for a special or temporary purpose only.
Joint registration regime applies in New Zealand
271 Patent attorneys must comply with joint registration regime
(1) A person providing patent attorney services must be registered under, and com-
ply with, the joint registration regime.
(2) Without limiting subsection (1) , the following apply to a person who is ordinar-
ily resident in New Zealand:
(a) no person may provide patent attorney services unless the person is a
registered patent attorney; and
(b) a company may provide patent attorney services as long as the company
is an incorporated patent attorney; and
(c) a partnership other than a limited partnership may provide patent attor-
ney services as long as at least 1 member of the partnership is a regis-
tered patent attorney; and
(d) a limited partnership may not provide patent attorney services; andPart 2 s 5Patents (Trans-Tasman Patent Attorneys and Other
Matters) Amendment Act 2016Reprinted as at
24 February 2017
6(e) the joint registration regime applies to the person and the person may be
registered as a patent attorney under the regime; and
(f) a registered patent attorney must co-operate with a request for informa-
tion from the Board if the Board is investigating whether or not to com-
mence proceedings against a registered patent attorney; and
(g) acts or omissions in New Zealand of the person have the same effect for
the purposes of the joint registration regime as if they were acts or omis-
sions in Australia; and
(h) if the person’s registration as a patent attorney is suspended or cancelled
under the Australian Patents Act, the person’s registration is suspended
or cancelled (as the case may be) for the purposes of this Part; and
(i) the person must pay the fees to the designated manager that are pre-
scribed under the joint registration regime.
Compare: 1953 No 64 s 103(1); 1997 No 60 s 17; Arrangement between the Government of Australia
and the Government of New Zealand Relating to Trans-Tasman Regulation of Patent Attorneys, 2013
cl 3.3
272 Commissioner must provide information about joint registration regime
(1) The Commissioner must provide information about the joint registration re-
gime on an Internet site maintained by or on behalf of the Commissioner, in-
cluding information about —
(a) the role of the designated manager (including registration requirements
and processes):
(b) the role of the Board (including the Code of Conduct):
(c) the consequences of professional misconduct and unsatisfactory profes-
sional conduct:
(d) how a person in New Zealand may make a complaint to the Board about
a registered patent attorney in New Zealand:
(e) the role and decisions of the Disciplinary Tribunal:
(f) how the Trans-Tasman Proceedings Act 2010, the Evidence Act 2006,
and the Trans-Tasman Proceedings Act 2010 (Aust) apply to the joint
registration regime:
(g) the role of the Appeals Tribunal:
(h) the application of the Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act
1977 (Aust).
(2) The Commissioner must publish, on an Internet site maintained by or on behalf
of the Commissioner, a copy of the Arrangement and Internet links to the Acts
and regulations that comprise the joint registration regime.
273 Interface with Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006
(1) Section 271  does not prohibit lawyers —Reprinted as at
24 February 2017Patents (Trans-Tasman Patent Attorneys and Other
Matters) Amendment Act 2016 Part 2 s 5
7(a) from providing legal services; or
(b) from taking part in proceedings under the Patents Act 2013 to the extent
that they were entitled to do so before the commencement of this Part.
(2) However, this section does not limit sections 277(1) and 279.
Compare: 1953 No 64 ss 101, 103(5)
Offences and penalties
274 Offences: unregistered persons practising, etc, as patent attorneys
Individuals
(1) An individual commits an offence, and is liable on conviction to a fine not ex-
ceeding $6,000, if —
(a) the individual carries on business, practises, or acts as a patent attorney;
and
(b) the individual is not a registered patent attorney or a lawyer.
(2) An individual commits an offence, and is liable on conviction to a fine not ex-
ceeding $6,000, if —
(a) the individual describes himself or herself, or holds himself or herself
out, or permits himself or herself to be described or held out, as a patent
attorney or an agent for obtaining patents; and
(b) the individual is not a registered patent attorney.
Companies
(3) A company commits an offence, and is liable on conviction to a fine not ex-
ceeding $30,000, if —
(a) the company carries on business, practises, or acts as a patent attorney;
and
(b) the company is not a registered patent attorney or an incorporated law
firm.
(4) A company commits an offence, and is liable on conviction to a fine not ex-
ceeding $30,000, if —
(a) the company describes itself, or holds itself out, or permits itself to be
described or held out, as a patent attorney or an agent for obtaining pat-
ents; and
(b) the company is not a registered patent attorney.
Partnerships other than limited partnerships
(5) A partner in a partnership commits an offence, and is liable on conviction to a
fine not exceeding $6,000, if —
(a) the partner carries on business, practises, or acts as a patent attorney; andPart 2 s 5Patents (Trans-Tasman Patent Attorneys and Other
Matters) Amendment Act 2016Reprinted as at
24 February 2017
8(b) none of the partners in the partnership is a registered patent attorney or a
lawyer.
(6) A partner in a partnership commits an offence, and is liable on conviction to a
fine not exceeding $6,000, if —
(a) the partner describes the partnership, or holds the partnership out, or per-
mits the partnership to be described or held out, as a patent attorney or
an agent for obtaining patents; and
(b) none of the partners in the partnership is a registered patent attorney or a
lawyer.
Limited partnerships
(7) A limited partnership commits an offence, and is liable on conviction to a fine
not exceeding $30,000, if the limited partnership carries on business, practises,
or acts as a patent attorney.
(8) A limited partnership commits an offence, and is liable on conviction to a fine
not exceeding $30,000, if the limited partnership describes itself, or holds itself
out, or permits itself to be described or held out, as a patent attorney or an
agent for obtaining patents.
Interpretation
(9) For the purposes of this Part, a person is taken to carry on business, practise, or
act as a patent attorney if, and only if, the person does, or undertakes to do, pat-
ents work in New Zealand.
(10) In this Part, patents work  means 1 or more of the following done, on behalf of
someone else, for gain:
(a) applying for or obtaining patents in New Zealand or anywhere else:
(b) preparing specifications or other documents for the purposes of this Act
or the patent law of another country:
(c) giving advice (other than advice of a scientific or technical nature) about
the validity, or infringement, of patents.
Compare: Patents Act 1990 ss 201, 201A (Aust); Arrangement between the Government of Australia
and the Government of New Zealand Relating to Trans-Tasman Regulation of Patent Attorneys, 2013
cl 3.3(e)
275 Exceptions for legal representatives and employees
Exception: legal representatives of deceased patent attorneys
(1) Section 274(1), (3), and (5)  does not apply in relation to the business of a regis-
tered patent attorney who is deceased if the business —
(a) is carried on, within 3 years after the death of the patent attorney or any
further time allowed by a court, by the legal representative of the de-
ceased registered patent attorney; andReprinted as at
24 February 2017Patents (Trans-Tasman Patent Attorneys and Other
Matters) Amendment Act 2016 Part 2 s 5
9(b) is managed by a registered patent attorney on behalf of the legal repre-
sentative.
Exception: employees
(2) Section 274(1) and (2)  does not apply in relation to anything done by a person,
as an employee, —
(a) for his or her employer; or
(b) if the person’s employer is a member of a related company group, for an-
other member of the group.
(3) Section 274(3) and (4) does not apply in relation to anything done by a member
of a related company group for another member of the group.
Evidential burden
(4) The defendant must adduce or point to evidence that suggests a reasonable pos-
sibility that a matter in this section exists or does not exist, in order to rely on
this section.
Whether company is related to another company
(5) In this section, related company group  means a group of companies that com-
prises a company and its related companies within the meaning of section 2(3)
of the Companies Act 1993.
Compare: Patents Act 1990 s 201 (Aust)
276 Incorporated patent attorney must have patent attorney director
Offence: failing to notify lack of patent attorney director
(1) An incorporated patent attorney commits an offence, and is liable on convic-
tion to a fine not exceeding $30,000, if the incorporated patent attorney —
(a) does not have a patent attorney director; and
(b) does not notify the designated manager of that within 7 days.
Offence: acting after 7 days without patent attorney director
(2) An incorporated patent attorney commits an offence, and is liable on convic-
tion to a fine not exceeding $30,000, if the incorporated patent attorney —
(a) does not have a patent attorney director; and
(b) has not had a patent attorney director during the previous 7 days; and
(c) carries on business, practises, or acts as a patent attorney.
Compare: Patents Act 1990 s 201B (Aust); Arrangement between the Government of Australia and
the Government of New Zealand Relating to Trans-Tasman Regulation of Patent Attorneys, 2013 cl
3.3(e)
277 Documents prepared by lawyers
(1) No lawyer may prepare a specification or a document relating to an amendment
of a specification (or make a representation, or permit another person to repre-
sent, that the lawyer is entitled to do so) unless the lawyer is —Part 2 s 5Patents (Trans-Tasman Patent Attorneys and Other
Matters) Amendment Act 2016Reprinted as at
24 February 2017
10(a) also a registered patent attorney; or
(b) acting under the instructions of a registered patent attorney; or
(c) directed to do so by a court of New Zealand or elsewhere.
(2) A person who contravenes  subsection (1)  commits an offence and is liable on
conviction to a fine not exceeding $6,000.
Compare: Patents Act 1990 s 202 (Aust); Arrangement between the Government of Australia and the
Government of New Zealand Relating to Trans-Tasman Regulation of Patent Attorneys, 2013 cl
3.3(e)
278 Documents prepared by member of partnership
(1) A partner in a partnership (other than a limited partnership) who is not a regis-
tered patent attorney must not prepare a specification, or a document relating to
an amendment of a specification, unless —
(a) the person is acting under the instructions or supervision of a registered
patent attorney; or
(b) the amendment has been directed by an order under section 89.
(2) A partner in a limited partnership who is not a registered patent attorney must
not prepare a specification or a document relating to an amendment of a speci-
fication.
(3) A person who contravenes subsection (1) or (2) commits an offence and is
liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $6,000.
Compare: Patents Act 1990 s 202A (Aust); Arrangement between the Government of Australia and
the Government of New Zealand Relating to Trans-Tasman Regulation of Patent Attorneys, 2013 cl
3.3(e)
279 Documents prepared by incorporated patent attorneys and incorporated
law firms
An incorporated patent attorney or an incorporated law firm commits an of-
fence, and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $30,000, if —
(a) an employee or a member of the incorporated patent attorney or incorp-
orated law firm prepares a specification or a document relating to an
amendment of a specification; and
(b) the employee or member is not a registered patent attorney; and
(c) the specification or document is not prepared —
(i) under the instructions or supervision of an individual who is a
registered patent attorney; or
(ii) as directed by an order under section 89.
Compare: Patents Act 1990 s 202B (Aust); Arrangement between the Government of Australia and
the Government of New Zealand Relating to Trans-Tasman Regulation of Patent Attorneys, 2013 cl
3.3(e)Reprinted as at
24 February 2017Patents (Trans-Tasman Patent Attorneys and Other
Matters) Amendment Act 2016 Part 2 s 5
11280 Attendance at patent attorney’s office
A registered patent attorney commits an offence, and is liable on conviction to
a fine not exceeding $6,000, if —
(a) the registered patent attorney practises, acts, or holds himself, herself, or
itself out as practising or acting, as a patent attorney, at an office or place
of business where specifications or other documents are prepared for the
purposes of this Act; and
(b) there is not an individual who is a registered patent attorney —
(i) in regular attendance at that office or place; and
(ii) in continuous charge of the patents work done at that office or
place.
Compare: Patents Act 1990 s 203 (Aust); Arrangement between the Government of Australia and the
Government of New Zealand Relating to Trans-Tasman Regulation of Patent Attorneys, 2013 cl
3.3(e)
281 Time limit for filing charging documents for offences
Despite anything to the contrary in section 25 of the Criminal Procedure Act
2011, the limitation period in respect of an offence under this Part ends on the
date that is 5 years after the date on which the offence was committed.
Compare: Patents Act 1990 s 204 (Aust)
Provisions that apply if Disciplinary Tribunal and Appeals Tribunal sit in
Australia
282 Provisions that apply if Tribunals sit in Australia
(1) The purpose of this section is to give the Disciplinary Tribunal and the Appeals
Tribunal powers in respect of a person or persons that ordinarily reside in New
Zealand to enable proceedings to be conducted in Australia.
(2) For that purpose, the Disciplinary Tribunal is deemed to have been declared by
the Minister of Justice to be an Australian court under section 152 of the Evi-
dence Act 2006.
Examples
Disciplinary Tribunal subpoenas may be served in New Zealand.
The Disciplinary Tribunal may take evidence, and receive related examination and
submissions, by audio link or audiovisual link from New Zealand.
(3) The Disciplinary Tribunal and the Appeals Tribunal are declared to be tribunals
to which subpart 5 of Part 2 of the Trans-Tasman Proceedings Act 2010 ap-
plies, and all decisions of those Tribunals that are made in connection with pro-Part 2 s 5Patents (Trans-Tasman Patent Attorneys and Other
Matters) Amendment Act 2016Reprinted as at
24 February 2017
12ceedings to review decisions made under the joint registration regime are de-
clared to be orders to which that subpart applies.
Example
Certain Tribunal orders may be recognised and enforced in New Zealand.
Compare: Arrangement between the Government of Australia and the Government of New Zealand
Relating to Trans-Tasman Regulation of Patent Attorneys, 2013 cl 3.3(c)
Provisions that apply if Disciplinary Tribunal sits in New Zealand
283 Provisions that apply if Disciplinary Tribunal sits in New Zealand
(1) The Disciplinary Tribunal may, at a sitting of that Tribunal in New Zealand that
involves a patent attorney that is ordinarily resident in New Zealand, exercise
all the powers of that Tribunal as if it were a sitting in Australia.
(2) Without limiting subsection (1) , the Patents Regulations 1991 (Aust) that are
applicable in relation to proceedings in Australia apply to the practice and pro-
cedure of the Disciplinary Tribunal at any sitting of that Tribunal in New Zea-
land.
(3) Without limiting subsection (1) , the Disciplinary Tribunal may, at any sitting of
the Tribunal in New Zealand, —
(a) direct that the hearing or any part of the hearing be held in private:
(b) require any person to leave the Tribunal:
(c) prohibit or restrict the publication of evidence or the name of any party
or any witness.
(4) Nothing in subsection (2) or (3)  applies in relation to —
(a) the prosecution of any person for an offence committed as a witness; or
(b) the enforcement or execution of any judgment, order, injunction, writ, or
declaration given, made, or granted by the Disciplinary Tribunal.
(5) A decision made under subsection (3)  may be enforced by a Judge of the High
Court of New Zealand who, for that purpose, has and may exercise the powers,
including the power to punish for contempt, that would be available to enforce
the decision if it were an order that had been made by a Judge of the High
Court in New Zealand.
Compare: 1908 No 89 s 56J; Arrangement between the Government of Australia and the Government
of New Zealand Relating to Trans-Tasman Regulation of Patent Attorneys, 2013 cl 3.3(c)
284 Issue of summons by Disciplinary Tribunal
(1) This section applies if the Disciplinary Tribunal, by instrument in writing
signed by the President of the Disciplinary Tribunal, issues a summons that re-
quires a person in New Zealand to appear before the Tribunal to give evidence
and to produce documents or articles for the purposes of a sitting of the Tribu-
nal in New Zealand.Reprinted as at
24 February 2017Patents (Trans-Tasman Patent Attorneys and Other
Matters) Amendment Act 2016 Part 2 s 5
13(2) The summons may be served on a person in New Zealand by leaving a copy of
the summons with that person personally, together with a statement setting out
the rights and obligations of that person, including information as to the man-
ner in which application may be made to that Tribunal to have the summons set
aside.
(3) A person who has been served with the summons under subsection (1) may not
be compelled to comply with the summons unless, at the time of service of the
summons or at some other reasonable time before the hearing, allowances and
travelling expenses or vouchers sufficient to enable that person to comply with
the summons are tendered or paid to that person.
Compare: 1908 No 89 s 56K
285 Failure of witness to comply with summons
(1) This section applies if the Disciplinary Tribunal, by instrument in writing
signed by the President of the Disciplinary Tribunal, issues a certificate stating
that a person named in the certificate has failed to comply with a summons re-
ferred to in section 284(1).
(2) The High Court may issue a warrant requiring any constable to arrest that per-
son and bring that person before the court.
(3) The High Court may, on the appearance of that person before the court, impose
a fine not exceeding $1,000 unless the court is satisfied that the failure to com-
ply with the summons, the onus of proof of which lies with that person, should
be excused.
(4) In determining whether the failure to comply with the summons should be ex-
cused, the High Court may have regard to —
(a) any matters that were not brought to the attention of the Disciplinary Tri-
bunal, if the High Court is satisfied that —
(i) the Disciplinary Tribunal would have been likely to have set aside
the summons if those matters had been brought to the attention of
that Tribunal; and
(ii) the failure to bring those matters to the attention of the Disciplin-
ary Tribunal was not due to any fault on the part of the person al-
leged to have failed to comply with the summons or was because
of an omission by that person that should be excused; and
(b) any matters to which the High Court would have regard if the summons
had been issued by the High Court.
(5) For the purposes of this section, but subject to subsection (4) , a certificate from
the Disciplinary Tribunal stating any of the following matters is conclusive evi-
dence of the matters stated in it:
(a) that the summons was issued by that Tribunal:
(b) that the witness failed to comply with the summons:Part 2 s 5Patents (Trans-Tasman Patent Attorneys and Other
Matters) Amendment Act 2016Reprinted as at
24 February 2017
14(c) the decision of that Tribunal, or any orders or findings of fact made by
that Tribunal, in relation to any application made to that Tribunal to have
the summons set aside.
(6) Subject to subsection (4) , no findings of fact made by the Disciplinary Tribunal
on an application to that Tribunal to have the summons set aside may be chal-
lenged by any person alleged to have failed to comply with the summons un-
less the Tribunal was deliberately misled in making those findings of fact.
Compare: 1908 No 89 s 56L
286 Other provisions about proceedings
(1) The provisions in subsection (2)  apply with the following modifications if the
Disciplinary Tribunal sits in New Zealand:
(a) references to the Federal Court of Australia must be treated as references
to the Disciplinary Tribunal:
(b) references to the court must be treated as references to the Disciplinary
Tribunal:
(c) references to a Judge of the court must be treated as references to a
member of the Disciplinary Tribunal:
(d) references to an Australian proceeding must be treated as references to a
proceeding before the Disciplinary Tribunal in New Zealand.
(2) The provisions are the following provisions of the Judicature Act 1908:
(a) section 56M(1)(a) and (2) (power to administer oaths in New Zealand):
(b) section 56N (orders not subject to review):
(c) section 56O (contempt):
(d) section 56Q(1), (2)(a), (3)(a), and (4)(a) (privileges and immunities of
Judges, counsel, and witnesses).
Miscellaneous provisions
287 Territorial scope and jurisdiction
(1) A registered patent attorney who is ordinarily resident in New Zealand is with-
in the jurisdiction of the Disciplinary Tribunal and the Appeals Tribunal and
must co-operate with an investigation by either Tribunal into his or her con-
duct.
(2) This Part does not apply to a person or company that is part of the patent attor-
ney profession of a country outside New Zealand if —
(a) the person or company —
(i) is resident or incorporated in a country other than Australia or
New Zealand; or
(ii) has a principal place of business for undertaking patent attorney
services in a country other than Australia or New Zealand; andReprinted as at
24 February 2017Patents (Trans-Tasman Patent Attorneys and Other
Matters) Amendment Act 2016 Part 2 s 5
15(b) the patent attorney services provided by the person or company are in re-
spect of the patent law of a country other than New Zealand or Australia.
Compare: 1961 No 43 s 7; Therapeutic Products and Medicines Bill 2006 cl 29; Arrangement be-
tween the Government of Australia and the Government of New Zealand Relating to Trans-Tasman
Regulation of Patent Attorneys, 2013 cl 3.3(d)
288 Rights of patent attorney over documents and client property
A registered patent attorney has the same right of lien over documents and
property of a client as a lawyer or incorporated law firm, as the case may be,
has.
Compare: Patents Regulations 1991 (Aust) r 20.53
289 Investigations under Australian Acts
A member of the Disciplinary Tribunal who is ordinarily resident in New Zea-
land must co-operate with an investigation that is undertaken under the Free-
dom of Information Act 1982 (Aust) or the Privacy Act 1988 (Aust).
290 Regulations under this Part
The Governor-General may, by Order in Council, make regulations for all or
any of the following purposes:
(a) prescribing matters that are necessary or desirable for the implementa-
tion of the Arrangement:
(b) increasing or decreasing the fines for an offence under this Part to an
amount that is consistent with the fines that apply under the joint regis-
tration regime after any alteration of the amount of penalty units under
section 4AA of the Crimes Act 1914 (Aust):
(c) prescribing any other matters that are required or permitted by the joint
registration regime to be prescribed:
(d) providing for any other matters contemplated by this Act, necessary for
its administration, or necessary for giving it full effect.
Compare: Arrangement between the Government of Australia and the Government of New Zealand
Relating to Trans-Tasman Regulation of Patent Attorneys, 2013 cl 3.3(e), (f)
6 New Schedule 1AA inserted
Before the Schedule , insert as Schedule 1AA the Schedule 1AA set out in
Schedule 1 of this Act.
7 Repeal of Patents Act 1953
(1) The Patents Act 1953 (1953 No 64) is repealed.
(2) However, the Patents Regulations 1954 continue in force (as amended by Part
2 of Schedule 2  of this Act) and may continue to be amended or revoked under
section 114 of the Patents Act 1953 as if it had not been repealed.Part 2 s 6Patents (Trans-Tasman Patent Attorneys and Other
Matters) Amendment Act 2016Reprinted as at
24 February 2017
168 Consequential amendments
The enactments specified in Schedule 2 are amended in the manner set out in
that schedule.Reprinted as at
24 February 2017Patents (Trans-Tasman Patent Attorneys and Other
Matters) Amendment Act 2016 Part 2 s 8
17Schedule 1
New Schedule 1AA inserted
s 6
Schedule 1AA
Transitional, savings, and related provisions
s 11A
Part 1
Transitional and savings provisions arising from Patents (Trans-
Tasman Patent Attorneys and Other Matters) Amendment Act 2016
1 Existing patent attorneys
(1) Subclause (2) applies to every person who, immediately before the commence-
ment of Part 6, is registered as a patent attorney under the Patents Act 1953.
(2) The person is, immediately after the commencement of Part 6 , a registered
patent attorney under the joint registration regime.
Compare: Arrangement between the Government of Australia and the Government of New Zealand
Relating to Trans-Tasman Regulation of Patent Attorneys, 2013 cl 9.1
2 Existing training and minimum knowledge requirements
Clause 9.2 to 9.7 of the Arrangement applies to persons in New Zealand.
Compare: Arrangement between the Government of Australia and the Government of New Zealand
Relating to Trans-Tasman Regulation of Patent Attorneys, 2013 cl 9.2 –9.7
3 Existing disciplinary proceedings
(1) Despite section 8 of the Patents (Trans-Tasman Patent Attorneys and Other
Matters) Amendment Act 2016, the disciplinary regime under section 102 of
the Patents Act 1953 continues to apply after the commencement of Part 6 for
actions and behaviours of patent attorneys in New Zealand before the com-
mencement of Part 6.
(2) The Commissioner must advise the designated manager if a New Zealand court
determines that a person should not practise as a patent attorney in New Zea-
land.
Compare: Arrangement between the Government of Australia and the Government of New Zealand
Relating to Trans-Tasman Regulation of Patent Attorneys, 2013 cl 9.12Schedule 1Patents (Trans-Tasman Patent Attorneys and Other
Matters) Amendment Act 2016Reprinted as at
24 February 2017
18Schedule 2
Amendments to enactments
s 8
Part 1
Amendments to Acts
Evidence Act 2006 (2006 No 69)
In section 51(1), definition of overseas practitioner , replace paragraph (b) with:
(b) a person who is entitled to practise in Australia as a registered trade
marks attorney; or
In section 51(1), after the definition of overseas practitioner , insert:
registered patent attorney  has the meaning given to it by Part 6 of the Patents
Act 2013.
Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006 (2006 No 1)
In section 6, replace the definition of patent attorney  with:
patent attorney  has the same meaning as registered patent attorney  in Part 6
of the Patents Act 2013
After section 36(4), insert:
(4A) A patent attorney does not commit an offence against any provision of sections
32, 33, and 35 by reason only of —
(a) preparing documents, transacting business, and conducting proceedings
for the purposes of the Patents Act 2013:
(b) exercising any other rights and privileges as may be prescribed under the
joint registration regime provided for in Part 6 of the Patents Act 2013.
In section 36, compare note, after “(2)(a), (c)”, insert “; 1953 No 64 s 101(3)”.
Replace section 47(j) with:
(j) the provisions of the joint registration regime for patent attorneys in Part
6 of the Patents Act 2013; or
Patents Act 2013 (2013 No 68)
In section 3(e), after “countries”, insert “; and”.
After section 3(e), insert:
(f) regulate the provision of patent attorney services by giving effect to the
joint registration regime with Australia.
In section 4(1)(e), after “matters”, insert “; and”.
After section 4(1)(e), insert:Reprinted as at
24 February 2017Patents (Trans-Tasman Patent Attorneys and Other
Matters) Amendment Act 2016 Schedule 2
19Patents Act 2013 (2013 No 68) —continued
(f) Part 6 contains provisions relating to a joint registration regime with
Australia for patent attorneys.
Repeal section 4(3).
In section 5(1), replace the definition of patent attorney  with:
patent attorney  has the same meaning as registered patent attorney  in sec-
tion 269(1)
In section 5(1), repeal the definition of register of patent attorneys  or patent attor-
neys register .
After section 11, insert:
Transitional, savings, and related provisions
11A Transitional, savings, and related provisions
Schedule 1AA contains transitional, savings, and related provisions relating to
amendments made to this Act.
Repeal section 218(d).
In section 247(1), delete “(except as set out in section 248)”.
Repeal sections 248 and 249.
Privacy Act 1993 (1993 No 28)
In Schedule 2, Part 1, repeal the item relating to the Patents Act 1953, section 100.
Part 2
Amendments to legislative instruments
Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Income sharing with Patent
Attorneys) Regulations 2008 (SR 2008/220)
In regulation 3(1), revoke the definitions of patent attorney  and patent attorney
firm .
In regulation 3(1), insert in their appropriate alphabetical order:
patent attorney  has the same meaning as registered patent attorney  in Part 6
of the Patents Act 2013
patent attorney firm  means either of the following:
(a) an incorporated patent attorney within the meaning of Part 6 of the Pat-
ents Act 2013:
(b) a partnership (other than a limited partnership) of which at least 1 mem-
ber is a registered patent attorney within the meaning of that PartSchedule 2Patents (Trans-Tasman Patent Attorneys and Other
Matters) Amendment Act 2016Reprinted as at
24 February 2017
20Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Income sharing with Patent Attor-
neys) Regulations 2008 (SR 2008/220) —continued
In regulation 4(e), replace “in a company carrying on business as a patent attorney
pursuant to section 103(2) of the Patents Act 1953 ” with “in an incorporated patent
attorney within the meaning of Part 6 of the Patents Act 2013”.
Patents Regulations 1954 (SR 1954/211)
Revoke regulations 152, 153, 154, 161, 162, and 163.
In Schedule 1, revoke items 10, 11, and 12.
Trade Marks Regulations 2003 (SR 2003/187)
After regulation 23(a), insert:
(b) whose registration as a patent attorney is suspended or cancelled for the
purposes of Part 6 of the Patents Act 2013; orReprinted as at
24 February 2017Patents (Trans-Tasman Patent Attorneys and Other
Matters) Amendment Act 2016 Schedule 2
21Reprints notes
1 General
This is a reprint of the Patents (Trans-Tasman Patent Attorneys and Other Mat-
ters) Amendment Act 2016 that incorporates all the amendments to that Act as
at the date of the last amendment to it.
2 Legal status
Reprints are presumed to correctly state, as at the date of the reprint, the law
enacted by the principal enactment and by any amendments to that enactment.
Section 18 of the Legislation Act 2012 provides that this reprint, published in
electronic form, has the status of an official version under section 17 of that
Act. A printed version of the reprint produced directly from this official elec-
tronic version also has official status.
3 Editorial and format changes
Editorial and format changes to reprints are made using the powers under sec-
tions 24 to 26 of the Legislation Act 2012. See also http://www.pco.parlia-
ment.govt.nz/editorial-conventions/.
4 Amendments incorporated in this reprint
Patents (Trans-Tasman Patent Attorneys and Other Matters) Amendment Act 2016 Commencement
Order 2017 (LI 2017/2)
Wellington, New Zealand:
Published under the authority of the New Zealand Government—2017NotesPatents (Trans-Tasman Patent Attorneys and Other
Matters) Amendment Act 2016Reprinted as at
24 February 2017
22