It is important to think about who will use the trade mark. If a company will use the trade mark, generally speaking, it is best to file the application in the company’s name unless there is a good reason not to. One good reason not to is if it is intended that all trade marks be held in the name of a holding company that licenses the use of the trade marks to its subsidiaries.

As of 6 July 2017, the New Zealand Patent Office (IPONZ) has joined the Global Patent Prosecution Highway (GPPH) pilot programme.  The GPPH is an arrangement between intellectual property (IP) offices including the US, Japanese, Australian and Korean Patent Offices that allows patent applicants to request expedited examination.

As of 1 July 2017, it’s not just cows that have a right of way on Norfolk Island, the Plant Breeder’s Rights Act 1994 (PBR Act) now applies.  As part of the Government’s commitment to providing the residents of the island with the same rights and responsibilities as people in the rest of Australia, PBR joins Australia’s other IP systems that have long applied in Norfolk Island.