173Prohibition of publication of information about inventions

#### 173 Prohibition of publication of information about inventions (1) Subject to any directions of the Minister, the Commissioner may, if it appears to the Commissioner to be necessary or expedient to do so in the interests of the defence of the Commonwealth, by written order: (a) prohibit or restrict the publication of information about the subject‑matter of an application for a patent (including an international application); or (b) prohibit or restrict access to a micro‑organism deposited for the purposes of section 41 with a prescribed depositary institution situated in Australia. (2) A person must not contravene a prohibition order except in accordance with the written consent of the Commissioner. Penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years. (3) A reference in subsection (1) to giving access to a micro‑organism includes a reference to giving a sample of the micro‑organism.