Guide to online searching of the PVR register

Guidelines on searching for pvr applications and registrations in New Zealand. Please note that this information is intended to be a guide only. For legal advice, we recommend that you contact a patent attorney or lawyer familiar with intellectual property law.

The PVR Search Form contains various fields where you may enter data to conduct a search of the New Zealand PVR database.

Go to PVR > Search for PVR(s)

2.2.1 Which search option should I use?

For quick searches, for example where you already know the pvr title or case number you are after, the quickest option is to use the “keyword” search. The keyword search searches PVR Name, Common Name, Denomination and Commercial Synonyms. Simply enter your word or words into the Keyword field or enter the IP case number.
 

Please note that this search is only intended to give you a quick indication on whether a pvr exists on the Register.

The Advanced Search allows you to construct complex search strings and search a wider range of parameters. When searching for a pvr you should use the Title search and incorporate searching operators to conduct a thorough search for similar pvrs.

2.2.2 Searching by PVR name and number

In the Name field use combinations of terms, common misspellings, text speak and combinations of stem words. There are a range of search operators and wild cards which will help provide a comprehensive search. The search operators (AND, OR, and AND NOT), quotation marks and wildcards (* and ?) can be used singularly or together to form complex search strings. You can enter up to 150 characters in this search field.

Example 1: PLASTERCOTE

• plast*c* OR plast*k* OR plast*q* OR pla?st*c* OR pla?st*k* OR pla?st*q*
• (plast* pla?st*) AND (*coat* *koat* *cot* *kot*)

Example 2: LEARNING MEDIA

• (*l?rnin* *learn*) AND ( *m?d?a* *me?d?a* *m?ed?a*)
• “learning media”
• “*learning media*”

Example 3: MILLENNIUM

• m?l?n*m* OR m?ll?n*m*
• *mil?n*m* OR *mill?n*m* OR *myl?n*m* OR *myll?n*m*

Example 4: JUICY ORANGE

• (*juic* OR *j??c*) AND *orang*
• Juic*
• *rang* AND NOT (*strang* *ranger*)

Example 5: ECO KIWI

• (*eco* *ecko* *ecco* *echo* *ekko*) AND (*kiwi* *k*w*)
• “ECO” OR “KIWI”
• Eco* AND NOT *ecologic*

Example 6: A

• “A”
• A* AND NOT “A?*”

2.4.1 Searching by the case number

The PVR’s case number is a unique identifier of the PVR’s grant number. You can search by entering the number(s) to the provided field.

2.4.2 Searching by the application number

The PVR’s application number is different from the PVR’s case number. You can search by entering the number(s) to the provided field.

2.5.1 Searching by denomination

A denomination is a distinguishing name or identification under which a protected variety is (or will be) known. You can search for publically available denomination by using the Denomination field to conduct the search in the same way as Name searches, using AND, OR and AND NOT.

2.5.2 Searching by plant common name

You can search for publically available plant common name by using the provided field to conduct the search in the same way as case Title searches, using AND, OR and AND NOT.

2.5.3 Searching by plant botanical name

You can search for plant botanical name by using the provided dropdown list.

2.5.4 Searching by commercial synonyms

A commercial synonym is a commercial name that may be applied to a variety for marketing purposes. You can search for publically available commercial synonyms by using the provided field to conduct the search in the same way as Name searches, using AND, OR and AND NOT.

You can search by the use of variety which is a grouping used by the Office to identify requirement for application by using the provided dropdown list.

2.6.1 Searching by breeder reference

A breeder reference is a temporary designation for a plant variety until such as a Denomination is approved. You can search for publically available breeder reference by using the provided field to conduct the search in the same way as case Title searches, using AND, OR and AND NOT.

2.6.2 Searching by client reference

A client reference is a reference provided by application and you can search for publically available client reference by using the provided field to conduct the search in the same way as case Title searches, using AND, OR and AND NOT.

You can search by the UPOV code by using the provided dropdown list.

IPONZ uses a structured database of client records which are linked to IP records on the register. To search for IP records by client, use the advance search, and click Select against either Applicant/Owner or Agent.

Applicant searching is identical to case title searching. Spaces are recognised as ORs and you can use quotation marks, brackets, OR, AND, * and ? to find your desired result. For more information about using these search tools please refer to Section 2.2.2 of this guide.

It is important to note that if a client name contains a comma or some other punctuation the system will recognise this as a character.

Examples of Applicant searches

Applicant 1: JOHN SMITH

• A search for “JOHN SMITH”, JOHN AND SMITH, “*JOHN SMITH*” or *JOHN* AND *SMITH* will return this client as a result. JOHN SMITH without speech marks or AND will return results where the client name contains either JOHN or SMITH

Applicant 2: JOHN SMITH, Inc

• The first two searches above will not return Applicant 2 as a result. This is due to the comma after SMITH being recognised as a character
• A search for “JOHN SMITH,” or JOHN AND SMITH,, “*JOHN SMITH*” or *JOHN* AND *SMITH* will return this client in the results

Select the client, or clients that you wish to search the register for. Note that there may be multiple records for the same organisation in some cases. Over time IPONZ will reduce these down to single records.

Those clients will now become a search criterion on the advanced search page.