The Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand (IPONZ) and the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) have commenced a new Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) pilot programme, effective from 1 November 2024. This collaboration allows faster and more efficient patent examination processes, benefitting patent applicants seeking protection in both New Zealand and China.
The PPH programme enables patent applicants to request accelerated examination in either New Zealand or China, provided that at least one claim in their patent application has been deemed allowable by the partner office. For instance, if an applicant’s New Zealand application is accepted by IPONZ, they can fast-track examination of their Chinese application, and vice versa.
This PPH is a complementary option to the Global Patent Prosecution Highway, which currently provides for accelerated examination within a group of 28 countries but does not include China.
China is a significant destination for New Zealand businesses seeking international patent protection. This agreement supports the economic and commercial interests of applicants from both countries by reducing examination timeframes and unnecessary duplication of examination.
For further information regarding the IPONZ-CNIPA PPH programme, please refer to the IPONZ website.
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