Shape Mark Held to Lack Distinctiveness Despite Long Use
In 2019 NZIPOTM 17 Kellogg Company v Société des Produits Nestlé SA the Assistant Commissioner held that Kellog’s application for the shape of a whole piece of its NUTRI-GRAIN cereal shown from various perspectives must not be registered as it lacks distinctiveness...
Options Paper Released for Plant Variety Rights Legislation
Following on from last year’s Plant Variety Rights Issues Paper the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) has now released an Options Paper, for which submissions will close on Monday, 9 September 2019...
Amazon Takes Pro-Active Steps to Eliminate Counterfeits from its Marketplace
Amazon has adopted two programs in an effort to discourage the sale of pirated or counterfeit goods on its website, namely the “Project Zero” and “Neutral Patent Evaluation” programs...
Following feedback from submissions sought during the middle of 2018 IPONZ has now submitted and received Cabinet approval for its Fees Review, which will involve amendments to patent and trade mark fees and hence regulations.