UPDATE: As of 11 September 2024, the timeframe for national trade mark applications has increased. You can now expect to receive an initial response within 50 working days of filing your application.
The Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand (IPONZ) has released new timeframes for examining trade mark applications. The timeframes to examine national applications and international registrations have been pushed out considerably and represent the longest examination periods we have seen for many years.
For national trade mark applications, you can expect to receive an initial response within 35 working days of filing your application, up from 15 working days.
For international registrations designating New Zealand, an initial response/provisional refusal will be issued within 100 working days of IPONZ receiving your designation from the World Intellectual Property Organisation. This is a significant increase from 20 working days.
These timeframes could be longer if the mark contains Māori words or imagery and needs to be referred to the Māori Trade Marks Advisory Committee.
IPONZ has advised that these timeframes will be reviewed and updated as developments occur. However, with several junior IPONZ examiners undergoing training and the National Government’s ongoing efforts to reduce public service spending, we do not expect to see any shifts soon.
IPONZ does not provide for expedited examination. So, if overseas-based clients want to progress their New Zealand protection as quickly as possible, we recommend that they file national applications rather than file via Madrid.
Please get in touch with us if you require a cost estimate for filing a national New Zealand application.
