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Trade marks
Practice guidelines
Priority of trade mark applications
This document provides guidelines on the priority of trade mark applications 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.
About IP
Trade marks
Practice guidelines
Absolute grounds - General
This document provides guidelines on whether absolute grounds exist for refusing registration of a trade mark. In particular, these guidelines concern the absolute grounds for refusal stipulated in section 17 of the Trade Marks Act 2002. These Guidelines do not constrain the judgement and discretion of…
About IP
Trade marks
Practice guidelines
Relative grounds - Prescribed words and abbreviations
Guidelines on section 22 of the Trade Marks Act 2002. These Guidelines do not constrain the judgment and discretion of the Commissioner of Trade Marks, and each application will be considered on its own merits.
About IP
Trade marks
Practice guidelines
Flags, armorial bearings, state emblems etc
Guidelines on whether relative grounds exist for refusing registration of a trade mark. In particular, this document concerns the relative grounds for refusal stipulated in sections 27-30 of the Trade Marks Act 2002. These Guidelines do not constrain the judgment and discretion of the Commissioner of…
About IP
Trade marks
Practice guidelines
Renewal and restoration
This document provides guidelines on renewal and restoration of a trade mark registered 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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Patents
Practice notices
List of practice notices published by IPONZ under the Patents Act 2013.
About IP
Patents
The Patent Examination Manual
Section 7: Meaning of inventive step
An invention, so far as claimed in a claim, involves an inventive step if it is not obvious to a person skilled in the art, having regard to any matter which forms part of the prior art base. Compare: Patents Act 1977 s 3 (UK)…
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Patents
Patents Act 1953
Filing a complete specification
Applications with complete specifications A complete specification should describe the invention and the best known method of carrying it out, and ends with one or more "claims" which define the scope of the invention. The front page of any complete specification (or as subsequently amended)…
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Plant variety rights
Technical guidance
Availability and supply of plant material for PVR purposes
Availability for Plant Variety Rights purposes An application for Plant Variety Rights can be made before plant material of the variety is present in New Zealand, except for arable, vegetable, grass and pasture species where supply of seed is required at application under Section…
About IP
Plant variety rights
Technical guidance
Seed requirement for grass varieties
The seed sample submitted at the time of application for plant variety rights will be used for the determination of distinctness, uniformity, and stability (DUS) in growing trials. It is common industry practice to inoculate grass varieties with varieties of fungal endophyte. The presence of…
