Since 2015, New Zealand and Australia have been in conflict over the registration of MANUKA HONEY as a certification mark. This article discusses the latest developments of the trans-Tasman dispute, its reasoning, and the implications this may have on Māori IP rights and the New Zealand honey industry.

This article looks at what will constitute acceptable evidence to establish reputation under section 17(1)(a) of the Trade Marks Act 2002 in trade mark oppositions based on decisions of various IPONZ Assistant Commissioners that have issued over the last six months.

Ed Sheeran faces trial in the US for yet another copyright action, this time for potential infringement of Marvin Gaye and Ed Townsend’s 1973 hit classic Let’s Get It On by use of certain chord progressions in his 2014 hit Thinking Out Loud.

 Trade mark practitioners in Australia breathed a sigh of relief when the High Court issued its decision in Self Care IP Holdings Pty Ltd v Allergan Australia Pty Ltd [2023] HCA 8 (15 March 2023). We did not have to read far: by paragraph 3 the High Court affirmed that the reputation of a trade mark is not relevant to the question of deceptive similarity when determining whether a registered mark has been infringed under section 120(1) of the Australian Trade Marks Act 1995.

The government has released the Resale Right for Visual Artists Bill to implement a new resale royalty scheme for artists.  The proposed legislation provides a right for eligible artists and successive right holders to receive a royalty on qualifying resales of original visual artworks.

 On the death of Queen Elizabeth II on 8 September 2022, Prince Charles automatically became the King of New Zealand. All of the functions, duties, powers, authorities, rights, privileges, and dignities belonging to the Crown transferred to the new King.  So what does this mean for the use of Royal titles? 

The High Court of New Zealand has dismissed an appeal by Stephen Thaler to have his AI system DABUS recognised as the inventor of a patent application under New Zealand law.

 Registered designs protect new and original aesthetic features of an article, such as the shape, configuration, pattern, and ornamentation. While there are similarities and overlap with other rights, registered designs provide a number of advantages that can be leveraged to best protect your intellectual property.

The New Zealand Plant Variety Rights Bill, the Bill had its third reading before Parliament on 16 November 2022, received Royal Assent on 18 November, and the Plant Variety Rights Act 2022 will commence on 24 January 2022.