New Zealand Patent Electronic Application System Upgrade

New Zealand Patent Electronic Application System Upgrade

1. New options for patent search

The New Zealand Intellectual Property Office IPONZ has currently updated the search function of the patent application electronic website. When searching for application cases using the case management tool provided by IPONZ on the website, you can set the display of the search results to include the year applicable to this type of intellectual property case. Fee and maintenance fee dates.

Users can select the [Show/Hide Columns] drop-down box at the bottom of the search results, and then select the [Show: Annual Fee Due Date] or [Show Annual Fee/Maintenance Fee Due Date] option to search for patent applications. The expiration date of the annual fee/maintenance fee is displayed.

Examples of new search result options for patents (left) and trademarks (right)

2. Change the request to remove the agent from the case

IPONZ has changed the way the case management tool behaves so that users can submit a request to remove one or more agents from an IP case.
When submitting a change proxy request in this manner, the "Remove proxy" option can be selected on the IPONZ website.

Users may remove or add proxies to this display if desired, but proxies will not be removed until IPONZ receives and confirms a change proxy request.

3. Update of patent announcement notice

IPONZ has updated a series of patent examination notices, including annual fee notices, etc., and the instructions will be made available for public inquiry. Provide a clearer title with highlighted deadlines and links to relevant content on the IPONZ website.