The Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand (IPONZ) is a
New Zealand
New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 List of islands of New Zealand, smaller islands. It is the ...
government agency responsible for the granting and registration of
intellectual property
Intellectual property (IP) is a category of property that includes intangible creations of the human intellect. There are many types of intellectual property, and some countries recognize more than others. The best-known types are patents, cop ...
rights, specifically
patent
A patent is a type of intellectual property that gives its owner the legal right to exclude others from making, using, or selling an invention for a limited period of time in exchange for publishing an sufficiency of disclosure, enabling disclo ...
,
trade mark
A trademark (also written trade mark or trade-mark) is a type of intellectual property consisting of a recognizable sign, design, or expression that identifies products or services from a particular source and distinguishes them from othe ...
,
design
A design is a plan or specification for the construction of an object or system or for the implementation of an activity or process or the result of that plan or specification in the form of a prototype, product, or process. The verb ''to design'' ...
and
plant variety rights. It is part of the New Zealand
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE; mi, Hīkina Whakatutuki) is the public service department of New Zealand charged with "delivering policy, services, advice and regulation" which contribute to New Zealand's economic p ...
. According to its website, IPONZ "aims to ensure people realise the full economic potential of their intellectual property."
Activities
IPONZ has a long history, beginning with the establishment of the New Zealand Patent Office in 1870. It now administers the
Patents Act 1953
A patent is a type of intellectual property that gives its owner the legal right to exclude others from making, using, or selling an invention for a limited period of time in exchange for publishing an enabling disclosure of the invention."A p ...
, Patents Act 2013, the
Trade Marks Act 2002
Trade involves the transfer of goods and services from one person or entity to another, often in exchange for money. Economists refer to a system or network that allows trade as a market.
An early form of trade, barter, saw the direct exchan ...
, the
Designs Act 1953
A design is a plan or specification for the construction of an object or system or for the implementation of an activity or process or the result of that plan or specification in the form of a prototype, product, or process. The verb ''to design'' ...
and the
Plant Variety Rights Act 1987
Plants are predominantly photosynthetic eukaryotes of the kingdom Plantae. Historically, the plant kingdom encompassed all living things that were not animals, and included algae and fungi; however, all current definitions of Plantae exclu ...
.
Over the period from 1 July 2011 to 30 June 2012, IPONZ received 17,675 trade mark applications, 6,253 patent applications including Patent Cooperation Treaty National Entry filings, and 1,283 design applications.
Online services
IPONZ services are provided via its online case management facility. Its services include:
* IPONZ Database - search for patents, trade marks, designs, plant variety rights and Hearing decisions for free.
* IPONZ Renewals - applicant can renew their patent, trade mark or design online.
* Lodge Application - apply online for a search and preliminary advice for trade marks and apply to register a trade mark, patent or design online.
* Online Correspondence - submit and view your patent, trade mark and design correspondence online. Select from a range of document types including:
** a response to your examination report or objections raised in your compliance report,
** assignments, change of name or address requests,
** requests for a certificate of Commissioner,
** extension of time requests
* Online Journal - search the intellectual property journals.
IPONZ email updates
IPONZ produces a short and concise eNewsletter containing important intellectual property information and updates.
Subscribers can elect to receive eNewsletters containing specific information of interest to them including:
*Journal Publications (Patents, Trade Marks and Designs)
*Plant Variety Rights Journal Publication
*Decisions of the Commissioner
*Practice Notes and Legislation
*Online System Changes
See also
*
Copyright law of New Zealand
The copyright law of New Zealand is covered by the Copyright Act 1994 and subsequent amendments. It is administered by Business Law Policy Unit of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE). In June 2017, a review of the existi ...
References
External links
Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand*
Ministry of Business, Innovation and EmploymentNew Zealand LegislationCopyright Council of New Zealand
{{NZ Public Service Departments
New Zealand Public Service departments
New Zealand
New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 List of islands of New Zealand, smaller islands. It is the ...