Japan Earthquake: Meeting IPONZ Deadlines

25 March 2011

The Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand (IPONZ) wishes to express our commitment to doing everything that we can to support the Japanese people during these difficult times.

If you are affected by the events in Japan and cannot meet a deadline set by IPONZ in a matter relating to patents, trade marks or designs, then you should at the earliest opportunity write to IPONZ with the following information:

• Identify the application number of the patent, trade mark or design concerned;
• Provide detailed reasons for missing the date; and
• Indicate the extension period required to meet the matters which were to be addressed.

We will assess each request on a case by case basis, and where appropriate, will provide a suitable extension of time.

From our website, a registered user can use the following online correspondence services;

• Submit Correspondence to file correspondence;and
• 'View IP History’ to track and view the progress of a file.

For more information about extensions of time see:

• Patents & Designs [47 kB PDF]
• Trade Marks extensions of time practice guideline