In our December 1997 Information Letter (N.S. 189) we reported a challenge in court seeking judicial review of the practice of the New Zealand Patent Office allowing so-called "Swiss-style" claims to the use of compounds for the production of medicaments for treatment of a specific disease in cases where novelty resided only in the nature of the disease specified. Judicial review was denied and the judge upheld the right of the Patent Office to accept claims of this type. The order of the judge, however, required that the Patent Office should not actually grant any patents with claims in this form until the challengers had the opportunity to appeal. An appeal has been filed and the grant of patents containing Swiss-form claims is therefore still on hold.