Once the transition period expires on 1 January 2021, the United Kingdom will exit the European Union. We take a look at what this means for your European trade mark and design rights.

The government has recommended a change to the deadline for filing a divisional patent application in New Zealand, abolishing the current 5 year deadline and replacing it with a requirement that any divisional applications be filed during the examination phase of the parent.

Several small yet significant changes are on the horizon for New Zealand Intellectual Property Laws. A number of these proposals have now been agreed to by cabinet and will proceed to draft legislation.

Congratulations to the students at Victoria University of Wellington's School of Design Innovation, on their success in a very challenging year.

The Australian Government has proposed a number of legislative amendments to the Designs Act 2003 to provide more flexibility for designers during the early stages of getting protection and to simplify and clarify aspects of the designs system.

Henry Hughes Law is a boutique IP law firm associated with Henry Hughes IP, and is proud to have been named a finalist in the Western Union Business Solution Intellectual Property Specialist Law Firm of the Year category in the New Zealand Law Awards 2020.

In October the New Zealand public will be going to the polls. As well as voting in the national election we will be asked to vote on two referendums. One of those referendums - the one about the legalisation of cannabis - has IP implications. Obvious IP considerations relate to the use and registration of trade marks for cannabis products.

Following an internal review and consultation, IP Australia has published its new fees which will take effect on 1 October 2020.

We take a look at the implications of patent protection on the availability of vaccines against, and treatments for, Covid-19 in the rush to discover and create these and issues such as compulsory licensing and patent pools.