Second-Class: A review of the trademark classification system
New Zealand, with around 150 other countries, applies the NICE classification system as part of its trademark regime.
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IP News to Peruse
Consultation on UK Design Protection Launched
The UKIPO has launched a consultation on the protection framework for designs with the aim of creating a framework that is fit for the future and incentivises innovation led growth taking into account that the UK’s designs law no longer needs to be harmonised with EU law.
Read more“Useful choice” clauses – what’s the use?
“Useful choice” clauses are, these days, something of a peculiarity of our local patent drafting. They are a particular type of object clause, usually phrased as an alternative after all of the other, substantive, object clauses in the general form “or at the very least provide the public with a useful choice”.
Read moreEPO Consulting on Patent Novelty Grace Periods
The EPO recently announced that it is conducting a survey regarding the EPO’s narrow and strict patent novelty grace period provisions amongst randomly selected European Patent applicants as well as consulting with user and stakeholder organisations.
Read moreDecision Maker Not Absolved by Lack of Acceptable Opinion Evidence for Specialist Goods
In Fantech (NZ) Limited v Systemair Aktiebolag 2021 NZIPOTM 40 the Assistant Commissioner held that when specialist goods are involved opinion evidence from people accustomed to dealing in specialist goods is not required in order for a determination to be made regarding the likelihood for confusion.
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