Industrial design registration in New Zealand

Industrial design registration in New Zealand

Registration of industrial designs in New Zealand – Every company that owns an industrial design and intends to expand its business in the New Zealand market should use the New Zealand intellectual property system. It is paramount for businesses to file an industrial design application in New Zealand for industrial designs, even if the launch of the respective product on the market in New Zealand has not yet commenced. 

Requirements for Industrial Design Registration Application in New Zealand

An industrial design application in New Zealand requesting the right of priority must be filed within 6 months from the priority date. 

The official language of the proceedings before the New Zealand Patent Office is English.

The following information and documents need to be provided in the application for registration of an industrial design in New Zealand: 

  • name, address, and nationality of the applicant, business address; 
  • request for design registration;
  • representation of a design.

A Power of Attorney should be provided at the filing date. Legalization or notarization is not required.

For industrial design applications where the priority is to be claimed, it is necessary to provide the certified copy of the priority document within 3 months from the date of filing the application.

Examination of an Industrial Design Application in New Zealand

Within 15 working days after receiving the application, an automated substantive examination of New Zealand design applications is carried out. There is no specific request that must be made.

Validity period and renewal of industrial designs in New Zealand

Six months from disclosure of information about the industrial design before the filing of the application does not disprove the novelty of the industrial design according to the New Zealand legislation.

In New Zealand, there are no formal grant fees associated with the registration of industrial designs. The registration’s original term is five years from the filing or priority date, and it can be extended twice for further five-year periods. On the fifth and tenth years following the filing or priority date, renewal fees are due. After the renewal due date, there is a grace period of six months during which costs may be paid. For payments made during the grace period, there is no fee.

Represented by an industrial design registration attorney 

An international applicant for an industrial design registration in New Zealand should perform an industrial design search in New Zealand through a law firm, or an industrial design attorney. 

You can see a list of New Zealand IP firms here.

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