Patents Bill of 2020 passed by parliament

The Patents Bill of 2020 which is intended to update Fiji's archaic patent legislation has been unanimously passed by parliament.

Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says the Patents Bill intends to provide an effective and efficient patent system that promotes innovation and economic growth while providing an appropriate balance between the interests of inventors and patent owners and the interests of society as a whole.

He says it also aims to ensure that a patent is granted for an invention only in appropriate circumstances by establishing appropriate criteria.

Sayed-Khaiyum further adds the bill provides greater certainty to patent owners and users of patented inventions that patents will be valid after they are granted.

National Federation Party President Pio Tikoduadua welcomed the introduction of the bill.

He says it is important that when we have a good patent legislation, we need to encourage people to understand how they can benefit from it.

Tikoduadua says he knows consultations were done but we need to tell the people that this is available for them.

He says this is because he had lodged an application for a patent at one point but it is tucked away somewhere.

Tuikoduadua says he has seen some good ideas for coconut water but it is very difficult for us to patent them because people do not know what to do.

He says he is hoping that the Fiji Intellectual Property Office and the relevant ministry is looking into this.

Minister for Trade Faiyaz Koya says the bill protects new and innovative ideas by young innovative minds being stolen or copied.

Koya says patents are important because it ensures the protection of the invention regardless of whether it's a product or a design or a process.

He says one key concern of these young inventors is having their ideas or new inventions protected.