Our IP team is an experienced multi-disciplinary team that assists clients to create value from their IP assets and protect them. The team draws on a blend of specialist IP and commercial/corporate and litigation experience to provide practical and strategic advice relevant to the development, protection, enforcement, transfer and commercialisation of IP.
We provide services to clients on a national and international basis. The national IP team is headed by Christopher Young (initial contact for IP queries) and the wider IP team includes partners and staff in both Auckland and Wellington, enabling us to deliver high quality services and resources in a cost effective manner.
Our team advises on a wide range of IP issues and has experience in a variety of key industry sectors.
Our IP capabilities include:
Trade mark registration and portfolio management
Ownership and management of IP
Strategy throughout the IP lifecycle including; research and development, licensing, commercialisation and sale
Commercialising IP and IP in corporate/commercial transactions
Marketing, advertising and film
Dispute resolution and litigation
Franchising
Film and media
Our IP team adopts an integrated approach and works seamlessly with other specialists in the firm to provide a "one stop shop" in areas such as corporate structuring, capital raising, taxation, human resources, securitisation, transactions, compliance, dispute resolution and litigation.
The Chambers Global Guide (2011 edition) recommend Minter Ellison Rudd Watts in New Zealand for intellectual property advice: Christopher Young spearheads the practice and is admired for his "strategic, skilled and knowledgeable" approach to IP matters.
Over the past year this full-service IP practice has been involved in a wide range of matters, with a particular focus on trade mark portfolio management and disputes. The team also undertakes work related to corporate and commercial transactions, such as IP financing and due diligence.
Sources say: "This confident team offers excellent advice in the most demanding of cases."
Christopher has been recommended by the Chambers Global Guide as a “Key individual” noting his “pragmatic and high quality legal advice”. Chambers Global Guide 2010 commends Minter Ellison Rudd Watts for “an excellent, comprehensive legal and advisory service on all IP matters. The firm’s advice is practical and perfectly balanced between legal and commercial issues”.
Recent Intellectual Property publications:
Intellectual Property News - 2 August 2011 - Federal Court hands down decision in favour of VIP Plastic Packaging's dip tube patent - Federal Court upholds innovation patents for treating mining waste - Full Federal Court upholds fish stunning innovation patents - US Supreme Court clarifies ownership of federally funded inventions under the Bayh-Dole Act - ICANN approves new gTLD program: .what next? - New trade mark tool launched to assist business owners select a business name
Intellectual Property News - 20 May 2011 - Federal Court finds Idameneo did not infringe trade mark, but did breach contract - Federal Court dispute gets hairy over trade marks on hair care products - An update for HAVANA CLUB rum fans – US trade mark registration barred from renewal - Belgian Court upholds decision on Google News service - Legal challenge to the UK Digital Economy Act fails - The National Broadband Network: Parliament passes two Bills - New Zealand introduces amendments to the Designs Act
Intellectual Property News - 4 May 2011 - Patent held invalid by simple naming of compound in a prior art document - US court strikes down the "25% rule of thumb" for approximating damages - ECJ declares proposed unified patent litigation system is not compatible with EU law - Woolworths not restrained from using 'Honest to Goodness' in its advertising campaign - Betty Boop character caught in copyright controversy - Proposal for unified trans-Tasman Patent Attorney Regulatory Framework - New online tool introduced to evaluate Chinese IP litigation - CIELA - New Zealand approves Bill to address illegal file sharing - US Administration White Paper on intellectual property enforcement
Intellectual Property News - 8 April 2011 - EMI fails in the 'Kookaburra' copyright infringement appeal
- AFACT to seek a High Court appeal of the iiNet decision
- Enhancing interaction with consumers through edible substrates
- Chinese patent law: what has changed?
- ICANN approves .xxx domain name - Government presents Intellectual Property Laws Amendment (Raising The Bar) Bill
Intellectual Property News - 25 March 2011 - Wild Geese trade mark is no Turkey
- Formula One loses the race for the exclusive use of F1
- Australia and New Zealand move to integrate their patent examination process
- ACIP releases report on patentable subject matter
- Australian and US Patent Offices strengthen work sharing measures with new PCT-PPH pilot program
- Bill introduced to exclude genes and biological materials from patentability
- EU Parliament consents to a central EU patent system
- WIPO introduces new online tool to conduct brand searches
Intellectual Property News - 13 December 2010 Music video copyright infringement claim dismissed - Copyright when work not created pursuant to employment contract - Queensland woman successful in appeal against sentence for copyright Infringement - Public relations providers go into meltdown over Court ruling - Court order forces LimeWire to close - Irish Court unable to act on internet copyright theft - Harry Potter copyright infringement claim will go to trial - No woman but plenty of crying for Bob Marley's estate
