Intellectual Property Articles
Expert articles and practical legal guides on intellectual property for new zealand businesses.
Protecting Your IP With A Trade Mark (2026 Updated)
You’ve put real time (and money) into building your brand - the name, the logo, the packaging, the vibe, and the reputation that comes with it. The tricky part is that brand...
6 January 2025
A Guide To Protecting Your Trade Secrets In New Zealand (2026 Updated)
If you’ve put real time (and money) into building a business, chances are you’ve created something valuable that isn’t obvious from the outside - a process, a method, a pricing approach, a...
6 January 2025
Do I Need To Register Copyright In New Zealand? (2026 Updated)
If you’re creating content, building a brand, writing code, designing products, or even just posting regularly online, it’s completely normal to wonder: do you actually need to register copyright in New Zealand...
6 January 2025
Responding To An Adverse Report From the Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand (2026 Updated)
Getting an adverse report from the Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand (IPONZ) can feel like a hard stop - especially if you thought your trade mark (or other IP right) was...
6 January 2025
What Is The ™ Symbol? (2026 Updated)
If you’re building a brand in New Zealand, you’ve probably seen the ™ symbol next to a business name, product name, tagline, or logo. It can feel a bit mysterious at first:...
6 January 2025
Creating Content On Youtube? Watch Out For Copyright (2026 Updated)
YouTube is one of the best platforms for building a brand, marketing your business, and reaching customers without a huge upfront budget. But there’s a catch: copyright issues can turn a great...
6 January 2025
Register A Trade Mark In New Zealand (2026 Updated)
You can spend months building a brand people love - the name, the logo, the packaging, the vibe - and then find out someone else is using something confusingly similar. That’s a...
6 January 2025
Indigenous Knowledge And Intellectual Property Rights (2026 Updated)
Using Indigenous knowledge in a business can be powerful. It can also be legally (and culturally) complex. Whether you’re creating products inspired by mātauranga Māori, incorporating Indigenous words or symbols into your...
6 January 2025
What Is A Copyright Licence Agreement? (2026 Updated)
If you’ve created something original for your business (like a logo, website copy, training materials, photos, software, or even a catchy jingle), chances are you’ll need to let someone else use it...
6 January 2025
Fair Dealing & YouTube: A Guide To Copyright Exceptions (2026 Updated)
If you create content for YouTube (or you’re using YouTube to market your business), you’ve probably had that moment of doubt: “Can I use this clip?” “Is this fair dealing?” “Will Content...
6 January 2025
Playing Music In Your Content: How Can You Avoid Breaching Copyright? (2026 Updated)
Adding music to your Instagram Reel, YouTube video, podcast episode, online course or TikTok can instantly lift the mood and make your content feel more “professional”. But music is also one of...
6 January 2025
The Legal Side Of TikTok: Music, Copyright and Ownership (2026 Updated)
TikTok can be a powerful marketing channel, a creative outlet, and (for some creators) a serious revenue stream. But once your videos start getting traction, the legal questions tend to follow quickly...
6 January 2025
Legal Considerations For YouTube Content Creators (2026 Updated)
Building a YouTube channel can start as a hobby, but it doesn’t take long before you’re dealing with very real business (and legal) issues: brand deals, copyright claims, defamation complaints, privacy questions,...
6 January 2025
How Do I Protect My Intellectual Property? (2026 Updated)
You’ve put time (and probably a fair bit of money) into building your business - your name, your branding, your products, your content, and the way you do things. So it makes...
6 January 2025
What Is A Deed of Assignment, Anyway? (2026 Updated)
If you’re running a business, there’s a good chance you’ll eventually need to hand over (or take over) a contract, an asset, a lease, or even some intellectual property rights. That handover...
6 January 2025
Are Recipes Intellectual Property? (2026 Updated)
You’ve spent months (maybe years) perfecting a recipe. It might be your signature hot sauce, a spice blend your customers rave about, or a plant-based dessert that finally tastes right . So...
6 January 2025
Need To Renew Your Trade Mark? (2026 Updated)
Your trade mark is one of those business assets that can quietly do a lot of heavy lifting. It helps customers recognise you, trust you, and choose you over competitors - even...
6 January 2025
Protecting Intellectual Property: Do You Need An IP Health Check? (2026 Updated)
You’ve put real time (and probably real money) into building your business - the name, the brand look and feel, the website, your content, your products, and the processes that make you...
5 January 2025
Can I Stop People Reselling My Business’ Products? (2026 Updated)
You’ve put time (and money) into developing your product, building a brand, and getting your pricing right. Then you spot someone reselling your products online - sometimes at a higher price, sometimes...
5 January 2025
Colour Trade Marks And Why You Should Watch Out For Them (2026 Updated)
When you think “trade mark”, you probably picture a business name or a logo. But in New Zealand, a trade mark can also be a colour (or a specific colour used in...
5 January 2025
How To Transfer A Trade Mark (2026 Updated)
When you’ve built a brand people recognise, your trade mark becomes one of your most valuable business assets. So if you’re selling your business, restructuring, bringing in investors, or moving IP into...
5 January 2025
How Do I Protect My Business Information From Being Stolen? (2026 Updated)
When you’re building a business, your information is often your competitive edge. It might be your customer list, your pricing model, your product roadmap, your supplier terms, your processes, or even “the...
5 January 2025
How Does Copyright Protect My Business? (2026 Updated)
If you’re building a business in New Zealand, chances are you’re creating content every day - website copy, social posts, product photos, packaging designs, training resources, proposals, videos, software, and more. That’s...
5 January 2025
How Do I Know If I’m Infringing Copyright? (2026 Updated)
If you’re running a business, building a brand online, or creating content for customers, it’s surprisingly easy to copy something without meaning to. A photo you found on Google. A “free” font....
5 January 2025
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