Intellectual property
Protecting the intellectual property (IP) of your business is important. This section helps you identify your business IP and outlines ways to protect it as well as trademarks, and gives an overview of copyright laws and how it can affect your business.
What is intellectual property?
Learn to protect the 'creations of the mind', otherwise known as intellectual property. Take a look at what qualifies as intellectual property, and your rights as the owner or creator of this business asset.
Protecting intellectual property
Look after your trade marks, patents and copyrights by keeping up to date on: how to protect intellectual property, the management issues around intellectual property, and how to avoid conflict with another person’s IP rights.
Intellectual property and your business plan
A good business plan uses all a business’ resources to gain an edge. Incorporate your business’ intellectual property with your business plan to get that competitive advantage by looking at what intellectual property assets you own, your IP portfolio, protecting your assets from new projects, and intellectual strategy and policy.
Copyright in New Zealand
Copyright provides protection for original works, such as drawings, music and film. There is no registration system for the protection of copyright in New Zealand.
What is a trade mark?
Find out what a trade mark is, why you should register a trade mark, how to check for existing trade marks, the fees, and applying to register your trade mark in New Zealand.
What is a patent?
A patent protects your new or improved product or process. Find out what a patent is, why you should register a patent, how to check for existing patents, the application process, forms and fees, and applying for a patent.
What is a design?
Design concerns the visual appearance of an article. To protect unique designs you can register them.
