Accelerated examination of patent applications in New Zealand

New Zealand's accelerated examination procedure for patent applications provides applicants with an effective way to shorten the examination cycle.

• Under Section 77(1)(b) of the New Zealand Patents Act, an applicant may apply for ordinary accelerated examination , but must meet certain conditions and submit a relevant statement. Specifically: the applicant must prove that:
  • The patent has an urgent commercial need, such as a signed license agreement, etc.
  • Patents face infringement threats
  • Patents may suffer financial losses
  • Patents can be stolen or adapted by competitors
  • In addition, if the patent helps New Zealand improve disease treatment, it can also serve as a basis for accelerated examination.
• Applicants can also further accelerate the examination process through the Global Patent Prosecution Highway (GPPH) , where at least one claim in a patent application is considered to be allowable by the patent office of another country.
• PPH request: Specifically, the New Zealand Patent Office has Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) agreements with the Chinese Patent Office (CNIPA) and the European Patent Office (EPO), so that the examination results in these countries can support the examination of New Zealand patents.

Accelerating the examination process can help patent applicants obtain patent rights earlier, so that they can quickly enter the market and effectively protect their innovative achievements. For patents with strong commercialization potential or facing competitive pressure, quickly obtaining patent protection is undoubtedly a key step to enhance market competitiveness.