News

Trade Marks just got Cheaper

Fees for trade mark registration and renewal have decreased, making it easier to protect your name, logo or slogan. Patent fees have also changed.

When: From 13 February 2020.

What: The Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand (IPONZ) has made changes to fees for trade marks and patents.Trade mark application fees have gone down from $150 per class to $100.

The fee for an IPONZ Search and Preliminary Advice (S&PA) report, used to check if your trade mark is available, is now $50 per class. If you then file a trade mark application within three months of your S&PA report, and the trade mark matches your S&PA application, the $50 S&PA fee will be deducted from the cost of your trade mark application.

Every ten years, when you renew your trade mark, the fees will be less, from $350 to $200 per class.

Trade mark fees (external link) — Intellectual Property of New Zealand
Some fees for patents will increase, with a new Excess Claims fee introduced for more complex applications with thirty or more claims during the examination process.

Patent fees (external link) — Intellectual Property of New Zealand
Who: Any business that wants to protect their name, logo, slogan or idea so only they can use it in their class in New Zealand.

Why: Fees have changed to better reflect the number of trade mark and patent applications.

What you need to do: If you already have a trade mark or patent registered, fees will change with your next renewal.

If you have not yet protected your intellectual property, use Trade Mark Check for free to find out if your logo, brand or name is unique.

Trade mark check (external link) — Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand
Trade marks: Do you own your brand?

Source: www.business.govt.nz