Brand Clearance Searches
Brand clearance searches provide peace of mind that you are clear to use your chosen brand name and logo, and begin the trade mark process.
Prior to filing a trade mark application or commencing use of your brand in the market, we highly recommend conducting a Brand Clearance Search.
This process helps to identify any existing trade marks that may be similar to the brand you want to use. An existing trademark (whether it is registered or unregistered) similar to your proposed brand might affect your right to register or even use the brand. Establishing this at an early stage can save a lot of cost or stress in the future.
We offer a range of search types to match your needs and budget - Basic, Comprehensive, International and Global.
Basic Clearance Searches
Our basic brand clearance searches involve searches of the Trade Marks Register (of New Zealand and/or Australia, depending on your preference) for trade marks that are identical with, or similar to, your proposed brand.
Our report will provide information about any potentially conflicting marks on the Register, that may affect your ability to register and/or use your proposed brand.
We'll also provide advice about whether your proposed brand is sufficiently distinctive for registration as a trade mark (see our article on Choosing a Brand).
Fees
Basic New Zealand searches (word) $500 +gst
Basic New Zealand searches (image) $700 +gst
Basic Australian searches (word) $500 +gst
Basic Australian searches (image) $700 +gst
Comprehensive Clearance Searches
Basic searches for registered rights only identify existing registered or pending trade marks that may directly affect registration or use of your brand. Our comprehensive clearance searches also include searches for unregistered rights.
As well as searching the Trade Marks Register (of New Zealand and/or Australia, depending on your preference), we also conduct brand clearance searches of the Internet, company and business name registers, domain name databases, telephone directories and various other directories and databases. These additional searches help to identify unregistered rights that may impede use of your brand.
Fees
Comprehensive New Zealand searches (word) $850 +gst
Comprehensive New Zealand searches (image) $1050 +gst
Comprehensive Australian searches (word) $850 +gst
Comprehensive Australian searches (image) $1050 +gst
International Clearance Searches
If you are planning on using your brand outside of New Zealand and Australia, we can conduct brand clearance searches of the Trade Marks Registers of the countries of interest to you. We conduct searches of the Trade Marks Registers of any country for trade marks that are identical with, or similar to, your proposed brand. For any countries of interest, contact us for a quote.
Global Clearance Searches
If you are planning on using your brand in a number of different countries we can conduct "knock-out" searches of the Trade Marks Registers of the following countries to identify any identical or phonetically similar trade marks that may affect your ability to use or register your brand in those countries.
Asia and Pacific
Australia, China, Fiji, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Macao, Malaysia, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkmenistan, Vietnam.
Europe
Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Belarus, Benelux (Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg), Bosnia Herzegovina, Bulgaria, European Community (CTM), Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guernsey, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jersey, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, World Intellectual Property Organisation.
North America
Canada, Mexico, United States.
Central and South America
Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela.
Middle East and Africa
African Intellectual Property Organisation, African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation, Algeria, Angola, Bahrain, Cape Verde, Egypt, Gaza, Israel, Jordan, Kenya, Kurdistan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Mozambique, Oman, Qatar, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, West Bank, Yemen.
Caribbean
Anguilla, Aruba, Bahamas, Bonaire, Saint Eustatius and Saba, Curacao, Jamaica, Netherlands Antilles, Saint Maarten (Dutch).
Fees
Basic Global searches (word) $1800 +gst
Please Contact Us for a quote for more comprehensive searches in specific countries of interest to you
How to choose a brand
From a trade mark registration perspective, it's important to choose a brand that is "distinctive". Learn more about what this means, and how to choose a brand/trademark that can be registered and protected.
Key information
Contact us
P 0800 THE LOFT (0800 843 5638)