FAQ

A trade mark is a sign, brand or logo which you can use to distinguish your goods and services from other traders so that consumers can identify you. It acts as a badge or origin for your company or your product. 

A trade mark can be any combination of words, names, symbols and logos – the more unique the mark, the easier it will be to register. Likewise, the more generic the mark, the harder it is to register. Some marks might not be registrable at all. 

No.

Registration of your trade mark gives you legal protection, and gives you the exclusive right to use the mark in New Zealand. You can sue if you find somebody else using your mark, or a similar mark on the same or similar goods or services without your permission. This protection lasts 10 years.

An unregistered trade mark is harder to protect and requires stronger evidence when trying to stop others using your mark.

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Once you have reviewed our initial report and given us the go ahead, we file the application on the same or following business day. Once filed, the application will be examined the Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand who will send their initial report within 4 weeks.

From there, many factors can affect the process.

A trade mark must be examined and accepted by IPONZ before it can proceed to registration. The examination process can take anywhere from 15 days to over a year depending on any issues that may arise.

Even when a mark is accepted by IPONZ, it cannot be registered until 6 months have passed. During this time, the mark may still face objection from another party.

The registration period lasts for 10 years. The trade mark can be renewed at every 10 year anniversary.

Where we remain as your agent, Trade Mark Zone will remind you to renew your trade mark. You can renew your registration through our affiliated website renewalzone

This is a search of the New Zealand Trade Marks Register to see if anyone else has already applied for a mark which is the same or similar to your own. Where one already exists, IPONZ (New Zealand’s Intellectual Property office) will raise an objection against the registration of your mark.

Trade Mark Zone can provide a search of the Register for conflicting marks before you apply for registration.

Searching the Register can be time consuming and confusing. Your mark does not have to be identical to one that is already registered, and it may be enough that other marks cover similar goods or services to your own.

When you search with Trade Mark Zone, you receive a comprehensive summary from the Register for other marks that may be in direct conflict with your mark.

When you apply to register a trade mark you must include a list of the goods and/or services you provide using the trade mark. These goods or services need to be categorised into classes for ease of identification and searching.

The Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand categorises the goods and services according to the International Nice Classification System. This classification system comprises 45 classes. Classes 1 to 34 pertain to goods, while classes 35 to 45 pertain to services. Each class comes with an associated official fee. 

Trade Mark Zone will classify your goods and services for you as part of the application process.

Only the trade mark owner or their agent can apply to register a trade mark. An application made by a person who is not the owner of the mark can be challenged.

No. Each country has its own laws and practices. You will need to apply for protection in each country where you wish to register your trade mark. However, depending on the country, you may be able to use your NZ application date to claim priority over other marks in other countries.

You can now use our Australian online service to file your trade mark application in Australia which can be found at www.trademarkzone.com.au. 

Trade Mark Zone’s parent company ZONE IP can provide assistance with overseas trade mark applications. Please contact us directly for a quote.

A trade mark is personal property. The trade mark owner is responsible for monitoring other people using their trade mark or similar marks and taking any necessary enforcement action.

Trade Mark Zone’s parent company ZONE IP can monitor your trade mark and alert you if other traders have applied for a similar trade mark with IPONZ. Please contact us directly for a quote.