Register A Trade Mark In New Zealand

When it comes to protecting your Intellectual Property (IP), your business should be investing in all the right methods. This could include Copyright Disclaimers, confidentiality clauses, Non-Disclosure Agreements or Non-Compete Clauses.

One of the best ways to protect your IP is by Registering A Trade Mark. This can also be done in various countries – so what if you want to Register A Trade Mark In New Zealand?

Before we dive into the details of international trade marks, let’s quickly revisit the basics.

What Is A Trade Mark?

A trade mark is a form of IP that belongs to your business and is often something that helps to define or distinguish you from other businesses. This could be a logo, business name or slogan.

For example, even the term ‘Black Friday’ is a registered trade mark.

It’s basically your way of saying “This is my business, and this IP belongs to me” so no one else is allowed to use it.

Trade marks are a great way to protect your business’ brand name – you can do this by registering a trade mark with IPONZ (Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand).

How Do Trade Marks Work Internationally?

Registering a trade mark in New Zealand is relatively straightforward. But what if you want to register a trade mark overseas? How would the process work?

If you already have a registered trade mark in New Zealand, and you want to register it in another country as well, you’ll need to apply through the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO).

However, you need to meet certain requirements before you do so. For example, the trade mark you want to register internationally needs to be the same one that you registered in New Zealand.

I Want To Register A Trade Mark In New Zealand

If you don’t have an existing trade mark in another country, and you want to register an entirely new one in New Zealand, Sprintlaw offers an International Trade Mark package that will ensure the process runs smoothly.

As part of this package, our lawyers will apply to register your trade mark directly in New Zealand, securing your exclusive right to use that trade mark.

We provide an initial consultation with a Sprintlaw lawyer to prepare all the right information before we proceed with your application, and we monitor its progress to make sure it’s all going well.

Next Steps

If you want to register a trade mark in New Zealand, Sprintlaw has a team of lawyers who can guide you. The process might be different depending on whether you have an existing trade mark elsewhere or not, so it’s good business practice to chat to a lawyer before you make any final decisions.

If you would like a consultation on your options going forward, you can reach us at 0800 002 184 or [email protected] for a free, no-obligations chat.

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