Topic

Intellectual property

This page contains different parts of laws about Intellectual property, within the topic of Business.

Related Plain Language Law

Trade Marks Act 2002

Protecting unique business symbols and respecting Māori culture

Trade Marks Act 2002

This law is called the Trade Marks Act 2002

1: Title

Trade Marks Act 2002

Getting Started: Understanding Important Words and Ideas

Trade Marks Act 2002

When this law starts working and becomes active

2: Commencement

Trade Marks Act 2002

This law explains what trade marks are and what the rules about them are for

3: Purposes

Trade Marks Act 2002

This law explains what trade marks are and how they work in New Zealand

4: Overview

Trade Marks Act 2002

Explaining important words used in the trade mark law

5: Interpretation

Trade Marks Act 2002

What counts as using a sign for goods or services

6: Meaning of use of sign

Trade Marks Act 2002

What counts as using a trade mark in this law

7: Meaning of use of trade mark

Trade Marks Act 2002

The government must follow this law too

8: Act binds the Crown

Trade Marks Act 2002

Rules for registering special symbols and names as trade marks

Trade Marks Act 2002

Trade Marks Act 2002

What a registered trade mark is like

Trade Marks Act 2002

A registered trade mark is something you can own and protect like other property

9: Nature of registered trade mark

Trade Marks Act 2002

What you get when you register a trade mark

Trade Marks Act 2002

Registered trade marks give you special rights to use and share your logo or name

10: Rights that attach to registered trade marks

Trade Marks Act 2002

Extra rules about what you can do with your registered trade mark

11: Additional matters that relate to rights attaching to registered trade marks

Trade Marks Act 2002

What you get when you apply for a trade mark

Trade Marks Act 2002

Rights you get when you apply for a trade mark

12: Rights that attach to application

Trade Marks Act 2002

Rules about which trade marks can be registered

Trade Marks Act 2002

When you can get your trade mark officially listed

13: When trade mark registrable

Trade Marks Act 2002

Special rules for registering certification trade marks that show approval

14: Additional provisions that relate to registrability of certification trade marks

Trade Marks Act 2002

Rules for group-owned trade marks

15: Additional provisions that relate to registrability of collective trade marks

Trade Marks Act 2002

Getting early advice on whether your trade mark is unique enough

16: Commissioner's preliminary advice regarding distinctive character of trade mark

Trade Marks Act 2002

Trade Marks Act 2002

Reasons why a trade mark can't be registered

17: Absolute grounds for not registering trade mark: general

Trade Marks Act 2002

Rules for when you can register a trade mark that isn't easily recognisable

Trade Marks Act 2002

You can't register a name or sign as a trade mark if it doesn't stand out

18: Non-distinctive trade mark not registrable

Trade Marks Act 2002

How colour affects whether a trade mark is unique

19: Relevance of colour to distinctive character of trade mark

Trade Marks Act 2002

You can't register a trade mark that uses a special place name if it might confuse people

20: Trade mark that contains geographical indication must not be registered in certain circumstances

Trade Marks Act 2002

You can't claim a chemical's common name as your own brand

21: Trade mark that contains commonly used chemical names must not be registered

Trade Marks Act 2002

Trade Marks Act 2002

Can you register a trade mark that has certain words in it?

Trade Marks Act 2002

Rules for using special words in trade marks

22: Registrability of trade mark that contains certain words

Trade Marks Act 2002

Rules about using someone's name in a trade mark

Trade Marks Act 2002

Rules for using someone's name or picture in your trade mark

23: Registrability of trade mark that contains person's name

Trade Marks Act 2002

Rules for trade marks with pictures of the Queen or Royal Family

24: Registrability of trade mark that contains representations of Royal Family

Trade Marks Act 2002

When can you register trade marks that look or sound alike?

Trade Marks Act 2002

When can't you register a trade mark that's the same as or similar to another one?

25: Registrability of identical or similar trade mark

Trade Marks Act 2002

When you can register a trade mark even if it's like another one

26: Exceptions

Trade Marks Act 2002

When a trade mark has flags in it

Trade Marks Act 2002

Rules for using flags or symbols in trade marks

27: Registrability of trade mark that contains representation of flag, etc, generally

Trade Marks Act 2002

Rules for using other countries' symbols in your trade mark

28: Registrability of trade mark that contains flag, State emblems, etc, of convention country

Trade Marks Act 2002

Rules for using symbols of international groups in trade marks

29: Registrability of trade mark that contains armorial bearings, etc, of certain international organisations

Trade Marks Act 2002

Rules for using country symbols and names on trade marks

30: When emblems, etc, are protected under Paris Convention or TRIPS Agreement

Trade Marks Act 2002

How to get and keep a special name for your product or business

Trade Marks Act 2002

Trade Marks Act 2002

Trade marks are sorted into groups based on what they're used for

31: Classification of trade marks

Trade Marks Act 2002

Trade Marks Act 2002

How to get a trade mark registered and other important things

Trade Marks Act 2002

How to apply for registering your trade mark

32: Application: how made

Trade Marks Act 2002

When more than one person wants to share a trade mark

33: Joint applications

Trade Marks Act 2002

The order in which people ask to have their special names or symbols protected

Trade Marks Act 2002

How the Commissioner decides which trade mark application goes first when they're similar

34: Priority of applications for registration of identical or similar trade marks

Trade Marks Act 2002

The Commissioner tells you where your trade mark application stands in line

35: Commissioner's requirements in relation to applications without priority

Trade Marks Act 2002

Getting special treatment for your trade mark application in New Zealand

36: Priority of application to which convention country application relates

Trade Marks Act 2002

Changing your request for a trade mark

Trade Marks Act 2002

You can take back or change parts of your trade mark request

37: Withdrawal, etc, of application

Trade Marks Act 2002

The Commissioner or court can fix mistakes in trade mark applications, but some rules may limit this

38: When Commissioner or court may amend application

Trade Marks Act 2002

Deciding if a trade mark application is approved or not

Trade Marks Act 2002

The Commissioner checks if your trade mark application follows the rules

39: Examination of application

Trade Marks Act 2002

The Commissioner checks if your trade mark application follows the rules

40: Acceptance of application

Trade Marks Act 2002

The Commissioner tells you if your application doesn't follow the rules and gives you time to fix it

41: Applicant must be notified of non-complying application

Trade Marks Act 2002

Commissioner can undo approval of trade mark applications before registration

42: Revocation of acceptance of application

Trade Marks Act 2002

When you might not be allowed to register your trade mark

43: Rejection of application

Trade Marks Act 2002

If you don't answer questions about your trade mark request in time, it might be cancelled

44: Abandonment of application

Trade Marks Act 2002

Commissioner must explain their decision about your application if you ask

45: Applicant must be notified of grounds, etc, of conditional acceptance or rejection of application

Trade Marks Act 2002

Telling everyone about a trade mark request that was approved

Trade Marks Act 2002

Telling everyone about a new trade mark request that's been approved

46: Advertisement of accepted application

Trade Marks Act 2002

Trade Marks Act 2002

How to disagree with someone's request for a trade mark

47: Opposition to accepted application

Trade Marks Act 2002

How to respond if someone objects to your trade mark application

48: Applicant's counter-statement

Trade Marks Act 2002

The Commissioner decides if a trade mark can be registered after hearing arguments and looking at evidence

49: Commissioner's determination on opposition

Trade Marks Act 2002

Trade Marks Act 2002

A trade mark gets registered when no one objects or if objections are sorted out

50: When trade mark must be registered

Trade Marks Act 2002

What happens when your trade mark is accepted

51: Commissioner's requirements on registration

Trade Marks Act 2002

Commissioner can help transfer trade marks when the owner dies without official papers

52: Commissioner may dispense with production of probate or letters of administration in certain cases

Trade Marks Act 2002

How to get a new trade mark certificate if you lost yours

53: Replacement of certificate of registration

Trade Marks Act 2002

Trade Marks Act 2002

Rules for using a special mark must be given before approval

54: When regulations that govern use of certification trade mark must be provided

Trade Marks Act 2002

Checking if a special trade mark application follows the rules and is good for everyone

55: Consideration of application for registration of certification trade mark

Trade Marks Act 2002

Rules for using special trademarks must be kept at the NZ trademark office for people to see

56: Approved regulations must be deposited at Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand

Trade Marks Act 2002

Trade Marks Act 2002

How long a trade mark lasts

Trade Marks Act 2002

Trade marks usually last for 10 years after you register them

57: Duration of registration

Trade Marks Act 2002

How to keep a trade mark active

Trade Marks Act 2002

How to keep your trade mark going for longer

58: Renewal of registration

Trade Marks Act 2002

How to keep your trade mark active by renewing it

59: Procedure for renewal of registration

Trade Marks Act 2002

What happens when a trade mark's registration expires but it's still on the list

60: Effect of registered-past expiry date status

Trade Marks Act 2002

How to remove a trade mark if you don't want it anymore

Trade Marks Act 2002

Owners can choose to remove their trade mark from the register

61: Voluntary cancellation of registration of trade mark

Trade Marks Act 2002

When a trade mark must be removed or changed in the official records

Trade Marks Act 2002

Commissioner or court can remove or change your trade mark if you break the rules

62: Cancellation or alteration of registration of trade mark for breach of condition

Trade Marks Act 2002

Change or remove a special trade mark if it's not working properly

63: Cancellation or alteration of registration of certification trade mark

Trade Marks Act 2002

Removing or changing a group's special logo if there's a problem

64: Cancellation or alteration of registration of collective trade mark

Trade Marks Act 2002

Cancelling a trade mark that was registered before

Trade Marks Act 2002

How to ask for a trade mark to be taken off the register

65: Application for revocation of registration of trade mark

Trade Marks Act 2002

Reasons why you might lose your trade mark

66: Grounds for revoking registration of trade mark

Trade Marks Act 2002

Who needs to prove a trade mark is being used when someone wants to cancel it

67: Onus of proof for revocation of registration of trade mark for non-use

Trade Marks Act 2002

Erasing a brand's special name from the official list

68: Revocation of registration of trade mark

Income Tax Act 2007

Money from selling patent applications or rights counts as income

CB 30: Disposal of patent applications or patent rights

Income Tax Act 2007

You can claim tax deductions for unsuccessful patent or design registration applications

DB 37: Expenses in application for patent or design registration

Income Tax Act 2007

Getting money back for inventing and selling patents

DB 38: Patent rights: devising patented inventions

Income Tax Act 2007

Deductions for selling patents or rights acquired since April 1993

DB 40: Patent applications or patent rights acquired on or after 1 April 1993

Income Tax Act 2007

How to claim a deduction for patent applications submitted before April 2005

DZ 15: Patent applications before 1 April 2005

Income Tax Act 2007

Handling patents when couples split property

FB 8: Patent applications and patent rights

Income Tax Act 2007

Things that lose value over time, like copyrights or patents, that you have the right to use

Schedule 14: Depreciable intangible property

Income Tax Act 2007

Tax deductions for unsuccessful plant variety rights applications

DB 40BA: Expenses in application for plant variety rights

Electoral Act 1993

Who owns new ideas created while working for the Electoral Commission?

9A: Ownership of intellectual property developed by delegates of functions or powers

Crimes Act 1961

It's against the law to steal or copy secret business information for personal gain or to harm others.

230: Taking, obtaining, or copying trade secrets

Evidence Act 2006

Keeping conversations with lawyers private

54: Privilege for communications with legal advisers

Fair Trading Act 1986

You can't use fake trademarks when doing business

16: Certain conduct in relation to trade marks prohibited

About this project

What is this project?

This project is an experiment to take difficult language, and make it easier to read and understand for everyone.

How do we do this?

What's our process for taking the law and turning it into plain language?

Why is the law written like it is?

Laws are often hard to read. They use a lot of words and language we don't usually use when we talk.

Should we use AI for this?

What are the good and bad sides of using AI?

Is this information the actual law?

We hope that this information will help people understand New Zealand laws. But we think that it's important you talk to someone who understands the law well if you have questions or are worried about something.

You can talk to Community Law or Citizen's Advice Bureau about your rights.

Remember that AI can make mistakes, and just reading the law isn't enough to understand how it could be used in court.