Trade mark registration help for New Zealand businesses

This service is commonly used by businesses launching a new brand, rebranding, expanding product lines, or formalising protection for a name, logo or slogan they already use in the market. It can suit startups, online businesses, agencies, product brands and service providers that want more than a DIY filing. If you already know you only need help with one extra class or a separate dispute, another service may be a better fit. Here, the focus is broader registration support across the main steps involved in getting the application lodged and progressed.

A common issue is whether the mark is distinctive enough to be registered, rather than descriptive of the goods or services. Another is whether there are earlier marks that may create conflict or lead to objections. Class selection also matters because protection is tied to the goods and services you nominate. Filing too narrowly can leave gaps, while filing too broadly can create examination problems. Part of the value in legal support is identifying these issues early, before they affect the application strategy or lead to avoidable delays with IPONZ.

That depends on what kind of help you need. If you want broader brand strategy, overseas filing advice, monitoring, enforcement, licensing, or assistance with a dispute, those services usually sit outside a standard NZ registration scope. This page covers the main registration work with IPONZ rather than ongoing portfolio management. Many businesses start here and then add other IP support later if the brand grows or a problem arises. If that happens, we can explain which follow-on service is likely to fit best and what extra legal work would be involved.

After filing, IPONZ examines the application and may raise questions or objections depending on the mark and the nominated goods or services. If the application clears examination, it can move to publication, where third parties may have an opportunity to object. If there are no blocking issues, the registration can proceed through the later stages. We can help you understand where your application is in that sequence and respond to standard filing-stage issues, but registry timing and third-party actions are external factors that can affect how quickly the matter progresses.

The fixed-fee covers the core registration work described on this page, including lawyer input on eligibility, preparation of the application, filing with IPONZ, and responses to standard registry queries that arise in the ordinary course. It is intended to cover the main legal and procedural steps for a straightforward registration pathway. It does not include tax advice, ongoing representation, or more involved dispute work such as formal oppositions, hearings, or enforcement against third parties. If the matter becomes more complex, we can outline a separate scope for that extra work.

Submit an enquiry on this page or click 'Get started'. One of our legal consultants will review it within 1 business day and get in touch to understand what you need.

Your consultant will then email you a fixed-fee quote setting out the cost, scope and timing. If you're happy with it, you can accept the quote and sign our engagement letter online.

Once you've accepted, one of our Australian-qualified lawyers will work with you to complete your project. They'll contact you by email or phone if they need anything.

Sprintlaw works on fixed-fee pricing wherever possible, so you can review the scope and cost before you decide whether to proceed. For the Register A Trade Mark service, pricing starts from $900.00.

After you enquire, a legal consultant will confirm what is included, the expected timing and whether any extra work is needed before you engage us.

We work online, so we can help wherever you are in New Zealand. Our team works remotely, mainly from Australia.

Your work is done by our Australian-qualified lawyers, who hold Australian practising certificates and specialise in business law. None of them are New Zealand lawyers or hold a New Zealand practising certificate.

Sprintlaw NZ Limited is a legal consultancy, not a law firm, and is not regulated by the New Zealand Law Society. We don't act in court or tribunal matters, conveyancing (including leases and business sales) or other reserved areas of work. Communications with Sprintlaw are unlikely to be protected by legal professional privilege. We still keep everything confidential under our engagement letter.