MBIE has called for submissions regarding the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) by IPONZ, including use to make "complex discretionary decisions". In principle, this could include an AI system deciding whether to grant IP rights on New Zealand patent, trade mark, or design applications.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), the government agency responsible for New Zealand's IP policy and laws, is proposing a review of New Zealand's IP laws, including the Trade Marks Act 2002.

The Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand has released the result of their review of Office fees and subsequent consultation. We look at what this means for patent and trade mark Applicants in New Zealand.

The New Zealand Court of Appeal clarifies points of law in New Zealand as to revocation, conflicting applications/registrations, and ownership in International Consolidated Business Pty Ltd v S C Johnson & Son Inc [2019] NZCA 61.

The Australian Government recently enacted legislation to repeal section 51(3) of the Australian Competition and Consumer Act 2010, which exempted conditions in the licensing or assignment of IP rights from being subject to competition law. The New Zealand Government is proposing to follow suit.

Several recent decisions of the Assistant Commissioner of Patents suggest that we may see a relaxation of how the Patents Act 2013 and its regulations are applied in New Zealand.

We will be attending the INTA annual meeting in Boston and Bio in Philadelphia and look forward to seeing you there.

We are pleased to announce that three of our senior trade mark practitioners have been named among the world's leading trade mark professionals in World Trademark Review's WTR 1000 (2019).

Whether Weetabix was an infringement of the Weet-Bix trade mark framed the issue before the High Court in the recent case of Australasian Conference Association Limited v A Little Bit of Britain Limited [2018] NZHC 2501.