Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand (IPONZ)

Nowadays November is synonymous with moustaches and men's health. The organisation that runs fundraising events throughout this month has a registered trade mark to protect its IP. A trade mark can help make what you do or sell stand apart from the competition in the market. There are several different types of trade marks – but most trade marks are words, logos, or a combination of the two. If you would like to apply to register your trade mark, you can find everything you need to get started here: https://bit.ly/4e3Hlwp

IPONZ has partnered with the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) on a new Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) pilot programme as of 1 November 2024. This programme allows patent applicants to request accelerated examination in either office, provided that one or more claims of their patent application have been found to be allowable by the other office. China is one of the most common locations for New Zealand applicants to file patent applications. This arrangement between the IPONZ and CNIPA offices gives applicants more options to fast track the examination of their patent applications in China or New Zealand. Pictured is Chinese Ambassador Wang Xiaolong on behalf of CNIPA (left) and Ross Van Der Schyff, Commissioner of Patents (right).

Inhibit Coatings’ world-leading antimicrobial technology has been shown to kill a large number of bacteria and viruses. Watch how Eldon knew patents and a trade mark were going to be a vital part of his business success. A patent protects an invention, process, device or how something works, and gives you the right to stop others from copying your idea for up to 20 years. Your rights only exist in each country that the patent is granted in. If you think a patent is relevant for your new invention or process, you can find everything you need to get started here: https://lnkd.in/eXRZGpQ2

This Sunday 27 October will mark 164 years since the first New Zealand Patents Act was passed. The New Zealand Patents Act was New Zealand’s first law allowing intellectual property to be registered and established the New Zealand Patent Office. This came in to force in 1860, with the first patent being granted in 1861. In the late 1800’s IPONZ was granting around 400 patents a year. Now, in 2024 our wonderful patent examiners grant over 2,400 patents a year! Keen to learn more about patents? Get started here: https://bit.ly/3LZNHBr

A trade mark identifies a unique product or service. Did you know that you can’t register a word that is common in your industry as a trade mark? For example, you could register MILK as a trade mark for architecture services, but you couldn’t register MILK as a trade mark for milk products. If you have a possible trade mark in mind – whether it’s a word, slogan, logo, or image – you can use Trade Mark Check to see if there are any trade marks on the New Zealand trade marks register that are similar to yours. Check out Trade Mark Check: https://bit.ly/3KYa6ig

It’s World Space Week! If your business is ready for liftoff, consider protecting your invention with a patent. A patent is an exclusive right granted for an invention. Patents benefit inventors by providing them with legal protection of their inventions for up to 20 years. However, patents also benefit society by providing public access to technical information about these inventions, and thus accelerating innovation. Many things can be patented – including different types of rocket fuel or ‘space food’ for astronauts! Have an out of this world invention you’d like to protect? Learn more about patents here: https://bit.ly/3BrJbcw

IP is everywhere... and so are allergens!   If you get hay fever and take antihistamines, there's a chance that in taking that medication, you’ve interacted with almost every type of IP!   Maybe the plant causing your hay fever is one of the plants protected by a plant variety right. The brand of medication may be registered as a trade mark and the shape of the pill bottle may be protected by a registered design. The active agent in the medication may be protected by a patent.  Intellectual property is all around us – find out more about IP and protecting your ideas: https://bit.ly/3zlUcvd

Based in the hills of Wellington, Paku ltd honours mātauranga Māori in the creation of tools for children. Watch how the team behind Paku ltd used a trade mark to protect the integrity of their brand. A trade mark can help make what you do or sell stand apart from the competition in the market. They come in several different types – but most trade marks protect words, logos, or a combination of the two. If you think you’re in need of a trade mark, you can find everything you need to get started here: https://lnkd.in/eYGK3wW6

It’s Te Wiki o te Reo Māori - Māori Language Week! Did you know that applications for trade mark registration in New Zealand are assessed if they contain Māori elements such as kupu (words) or designs, including features derived from mātauranga Māori? Applications to register trade marks that contain Māori elements are referred to the Māori Trade Marks Advisory Committee. Committee members have a deep understanding of mātauranga Māori and tikanga Māori (Māori worldview, culture and protocols). The Committee will advise IPONZ whether the proposed use of the trade mark is likely to be offensive to Māori. If this is the case, the trade mark may not be considered eligible for registration. Find out more about Māori IP: https://bit.ly/3Z7BaDt

Ahh… the wonders of spring! Have a look around your garden or local green space and it might just be that your favourite plant in bloom is a variety protected by a plant variety right! Plant variety rights (PVR) protect new plant cultivars. They give plant breeders the exclusive right to commercialise that variety and includes the selling of propagating material such as cuttings or seed. Find out more about PVRs here: https://bit.ly/4esd7nt