IP Australia launches Peer-to-Patent trial
IP Australia has announced the trial of a web-based initiative where patent applicants are able to volunteer to have their application posted on a website allowing registered subject-matter experts to “submit information corresponding to the claims of patent applications”. This would include the experts identifying prior art (in particular, non-patent literature) not identified by the examiner.
The trial will only relate to business methods or related applications. See here for more information.
Similar programs have (or are) been conducted in the US, the UK, Europe (EPO) and Japan.