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Gene patents in Australia: where do we stand?

The provision of a patent system that protects innovators and researchers while ensuring reasonable access to emerging technologies and medical treatments are the key objectives of the Australian government's response to three important reports concerning Australia's patent system and gene patents.

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References

  1. Kirin-Amgen Inc v Board of Regents of University of Washington (1995) 33 IPR 557.

  2. Genetics Institute Inc v Kirin-Amgen Inc (1996) 34 IPR 513.

  3. Senate Committees inquiry on the Patent Amendment (Human Genes and Biological Materials) Bill 2010. Submissions received by the Committee. http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate_Committees?url=legcon_ctte/patent_amendment/submissions.htm

  4. Australian Law Reform Commission. ALRC Submission to Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs Inquiry into Gene Patents (ALRC, 18 March 2009). http://www.alrc.gov.au/senate-standing-committee-community-affairs-inquiry-gene-patents

  5. Australian Law Reform Commission. Advisory Council on Intellectual Property Review of Patentable Subject Matter (ALRC, December 2010). http://www.acip.gov.au/library/ACIP%20PSM%20final%20report%204%20Feb%202011.pdf

  6. Australian Law Reform Commission. Genes and Ingenuity: Gene Patenting and Human Health (ALRC, 30 August 2004). http://www.alrc.gov.au/publications/report-99

  7. Anonymous. Australian Government Response to Senate Community Affairs References Committee Gene Patents Report (23 November 2011) http://www.ipaustralia.gov.au/46106/Australian_Government_Response_to_Senate_Committee_Gene_Patents_Report.pdf

  8. Cancer Voices Australia & Anor v Myriad Genetics Inc & Ors, Federal Court of Australia, NSD643 (2010).

  9. Myriad Genetics, Inc. In vivo mutations and polymorphisms in the 17q-linked breast and ovarian cancer susceptibility gene. Australian patent no. 686004 (1995). http://pericles.ipaustralia.gov.au/ols/auspat/applicationDetails.do?applicationNo=1995033212

  10. http://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/images/stories/opinions-orders/10-1406.pdf

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Correspondence to David P Simmons or Mark E Wickham.

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Simmons, D., Wickham, M. Gene patents in Australia: where do we stand?. Nat Biotechnol 30, 323–324 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt.2173

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