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Trade marks
Practice guidelines
Examination of trade mark applications
This document provides guidelines on the examination of a trade mark application under the Trade Marks Act 2002. These Guidelines do not constrain the judgement and discretion of the Commissioner of Trade Marks, and each application will be considered on its own merits.
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Trade marks
Practice guidelines
Amendments to trade mark applications
This document provides guidelines on sections 37 and 38 of the Trade Marks Act 2002. These guidelines do not constrain the judgement and discretion of the Commissioner of Trade Marks, and each application will be considered on its own merits.
About IP
Trade marks
Practice guidelines
Agents
This document provides guidelines on agents under section 190 of the Trade Marks Act 2002. These guidelines do not constrain the judgement and discretion of the Commissioner of Trade Marks, and each application will be considered on its own merits.
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Patents
Patents Act 1953
Examination of patent applications
Contrary to morality | Raising objections under section 17(1) The practice note of 2008 entitled Contrary to morality | Raising objections under section 17(1) has caused some confusion with respect to the nature of what would and would not be objectionable under section 17(1) of the…
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Patents
The Patent Examination Manual
Section 11: Computer programs
(1) A computer program is not an invention and not a manner of manufacture for the purposes of this Act. (2) Subsection (1) prevents anything from being an invention or a manner of manufacture for the purposes of this Act only to the extent that…
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Patents
Patents Act 1953
Offering to surrender a patent
Surrendering of patents Patents owners may offer to surrender a granted Patent at any time using the online system. Prior to granting of a Patent an application may be withdrawn – see Withdrawing a Patent . The offer to surrender a Patent…
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Designs
Practice guidelines
Statement of novelty for designs
IPONZ wishes to clarify that only a single copy or instance of a "statement of novelty" is required to accompany an application and representations to register a design. The statement need not be signed. The traditional practice of requiring three copies of the statement of…
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Trade marks
Trade Mark Hearings
How you can be heard
Regulations 122, 125, 126 and 127 — New Zealand Legislation After all the evidential steps in the proceeding are completed, you will need to decide how you wish to be heard. Your options are: (a) On the papers already…
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Patents
Hearings
Revocation of a patent
Any aggrieved person may apply to have a grant of patent revoked, based on specific grounds provided by law.
News and updates
Amended Patents, Trade Mark and Design Regulations gazetted
Amendments to the Patents Regulations 2014, the Trade Mark Regulations 2003, the Trade Marks (International Registration) Regulations 2012, and the Design Regulations 1954 have been notified in the New Zealand Gazette as of today.