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ARTICLE · 22 MAY 2022

How can I enforce unregistered trade mark rights in NZ?

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You can still have valid ownership rights in a trade mark without official registration.

AustraliaIntellectual Property
Emma Lindblom
Emma Lindblom
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Trade mark rights are a kind of intellectual property right that can significantly benefit your business. However, you may not necessarily need to register a trade mark to take advantage of its corresponding powers. Therefore, this article will provide some background and explain how you can enforce unregistered trade mark rights.

What Are Unregistered Trade Mark Rights?

Trade marks serve as unique identifiers for your business. Customers use them to recognise your goods or services. As a result, a trade mark acts as a "badge of origin", indicating to potential customers that your business is the source of the goods or services you provide. Notably, trade marks can include a variety of elements, such as:

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