Further Trade Mark Amendments

New Zealand signed the Singapore treaty on the Law of Trade Marks in Geneva in September 2006. Steps are now being taken through to the Parliamentary process to ratify the treaty. New Zealand also intends to accede to both the Madrid Protocol and the Nice agreement (despite the fact that New Zealand has adhered to the Nice Agreement for the last 30 odd years). Preliminary work has begun on preparing amendments to the Trade Marks Act 2002 to implement obligations arising from joining the Madrid Protocol and the Singapore treaty. The amending legislation is expected to be introduced into Parliament in early 2007.