In 2012, the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) introduced a multi-jurisdictional design searching platform (DesignView), which has since expanded to include design data from IP Offices in major European and non-European jurisdictions. Such jurisdictions include the UK, Germany, Spain, USA, Canada, China, Korea and Russia. Design data from the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) Global Design Database (which includes industrial designs registered under the WIPO-administered Hague System and/or in participating national collections) is also accessible through the EUIPO DesignView search tool.
As of 30 June 2020, design data from the Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand (IPONZ) has been available for access via the DesignView search tool. With the inclusion of IPONZ design data, the DesignView search tool now contains design data from 72 participating offices.
It is understood that searching capabilities for New Zealand designs were previously limited to the IPONZ designs database (accessible here), which allowed designs to be searched using, amongst other criteria, keywords for the title of the design/product, applicant/owner name, and Locarno Classification.
With the inclusion of IPONZ design data in the EUIPO DesignView search tool (accessible here), it is now possible for users to conduct an overarching search for pending and registered designs in New Zealand, and to compare the search results alongside registered designs in other jurisdictions of interest. The DesignView search tool is reasonably comprehensive, allowing designs to be searched using key criteria such as design title (i.e. indication of the product), applicant/owner name, design registration or application number, designer name, filing date, and status. The DesignView search tool provides the user with the ability to prepare printable and customisable search reports based on search results obtained from multi-jurisdictional design data.
The inclusion of IPONZ design data in the EUIPO DesignView search tool is likely to benefit local designers and design owners by exposing their design activity on a global level. Local and international and design applicants are also likely to benefit from being able to better understand the designs landscape in New Zealand and other jurisdictions of interest prior to exploiting any new product commercially. The tool may also provide designers and design applicants with valuable insight into the market and to monitor competitor activity across multiple jurisdictions.
If you would like any further information or guidance on preparing a specific searching or filing strategy in respect of your design in New Zealand, please contact us.