Features of New Zealand design patent application process

IPONZ conducts formal and substantive examinations of designs. IPONZ automatically starts the substantive examination within 15 days of receiving the design application, no need for the applicant to submit a specific request separately, the applicant has 12 months (can be extended up to 3 months) to overcome the defect to meet the grant conditions, IPONZ only examines Novelty of exterior design. Designs can only be transferred to others after they have been granted a patent.