Updated Trade Mark Practice Guidelines on INNs and Offensive Marks

The Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand (IPONZ) has issued an update to its Absolute Grounds - General practice guidelines for trade marks. The revisions specifically address sections 2.7 (International Non-Proprietary Names - INNs), 2.8 (INN stems), and section 4 (Offensive trade marks). These updates clarify IPONZ's examination practices concerning these sensitive areas of trade mark law.

Trade mark applicants and legal professionals should review the updated guidelines to ensure their applications align with the revised practices, particularly concerning the use of INNs and the assessment of marks deemed offensive. While these are practice guidelines and non-binding, adherence is crucial for successful trade mark registration in New Zealand. No specific compliance deadline is mentioned, but the effective date of the update is March 11, 2026.