The Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand (IPONZ) is consulting on four fee change proposals. Two of these relate to the patent fee structure and two relate to the trade mark fee structure.

IPONZ says it recently carried out a routine review of its fees to support a more consistent and transparent approach to cost-recovery across the range of services it provides.

It says the review identified a number of areas where changes could be considered.

"These changes are intended to rebalance patent and trade mark revenues to appropriate levels, and to improve the efficiency, equity and effectiveness of the two regimes."

The proposals are:

Increasing fees for patent renewals and maintenance.

• Increasing fees for high-cost patent services such as patent restorations and amendments after acceptance, and introducing an ‘excess claims’ fee for complex patent applications.

• Introducing discounted trade mark application fees for applicants who use IPONZ’s ‘search and preliminary advice’ reports and classification picklist.

• Simplifying trade mark application processes by phasing out separate services for ‘search’ and ‘preliminary advice’ reports.

• Changes to fees for designs, plant variety rights, geographical indications and hearings services are not being proposed at this time.

The consultation period runs from 25 June to 30 July 2018. IPONZ has provided an optional submission template and other information on the proposals.