Fact Sheet 12 - Intellectual Property Rights Trade Marks and Copyright 

This Fact Sheet describes Customs procedures for detaining infringing trade mark goods and pirated copyright goods.

What is the TRIPS agreement?
Why would an owner of a trade mark and/ or copyright consider lodging notices with Customs?
What are the border protection measures under the Trade Marks Act 2002 for infringing trade marks?
What are the border protection measures under the Copyright Act 1994 for pirated copyright goods?
Are any goods exempt?
Form of Notice under Section 137 of Trade Marks Act 2002
Form of Notice Under Section 136(1) of Copyright Act 1994
Security Under the Trade Marks Act 2002 and Copyright Act 1994

What is the TRIPS agreement?

One of the agreements under the World Trade Organisation is the Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). The TRIPS Agreement establishes minimum standards for the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights.

To implement the requirements of TRIPS, border enforcement measures were introduced on 1 January 1995 for imported infringing trade mark goods and pirated copyright goods, and are incorporated in the Copyright Act 1994 and the Trade Marks Act 2002.

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Why would an owner of a trade mark and/ or copyright consider lodging notices with Customs?

The New Zealand Customs Service may only take action in respect of infringing trade mark goods and pirated copyright goods where the owner of the trade mark or copyright has lodged a notice with the Customs Service requesting the detention of the goods, while the goods are subject to Customs control. A notice is valid for five years from the date of the notice or until the trade mark registration or copyright in the work expires - whichever comes first.

At the time of lodging a notice, the rights owner must also complete a form of indemnity, to cover any costs that may be incurred by the Customs Service (such as storage, transport, legal) in enforcing the notice. A standard security of NZ$5,000 is also required. The NZ$5,000 security is lodged in the Customs Service’s trust account and is refundable at the end of the notice period, less any costs incurred.

To be accepted, the notices must comply with the requirements of the Copyright Act 1994 or the Trade Marks Act 2002. Intellectual property protection is a complex issue, and you may wish to consider obtaining advice from a patent attorney or lawyer before lodging a notice, or contact Avril Miles at the Customs Service on 04-462 0140 for assistance.

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What are the border protection measures under the Trade Marks Act 2002 for infringing trade marks?

• The provisions apply in respect of trade marks registered in New Zealand.
• The trade mark owner or the owner’s authorised agent (a written authorisation of agent is required) must lodge a notice showing ownership of the trade mark, and give a security and indemnity to the Chief Executive of the New Zealand Customs Service.
• The Customs Service will detain (not seize) for 10 working days (after a determination has been made) imported goods which it considers infringe a trade mark covered by the notice.
• During the period of detention, the trade mark owner may initiate proceedings through the Court to establish that the goods infringe their trade mark. The goods will be detained by the Customs Service pending the decision of the Court.
• On application by the trade mark owner, the detention period may, in particular circumstances, be extended by the Customs Service for a further 10 working days. The application for extending the detention period must be supported by valid reasons.
• If the Customs Service has not been served with a notice of Court proceedings during the detention period, the goods will be released to the importer.
• The importer may also apply to the Court for a ruling that the goods do not infringe the trade mark, or are not covered by the notice.
• During the period of detention, the importer may consent in writing to the goods being forfeit to the Crown.

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What are the border protection measures under the Copyright Act 1994 for pirated copyright goods?

The provisions for pirated copyright goods are the same as the above provisions for infringing trade marks.

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Are any goods exempt?

The above provisions for infringing trademark and pirated copyright goods do not apply to goods being imported solely for a person’s own private and domestic use.

For further information, visit the Customs website www.customs.govt.nz/importers/commercial+importers/ trade+marks.htm, or contact Avril Miles, New Zealand Customs Service, Box 2218, Wellington. Phone: 04-462 0140, Fax: 04-473 7370, Email: avril.miles@customs.govt.nz

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Form of Notice under Section 137 of Trade Marks Act 2002

_____________________________________________________________________

Form of Notice under Section 137 of Trade Marks Act 2002
Notice Requesting Detention of Goods Infringing Registered Trade Mark
                                                                                                                         

To the Chief Executive of the New Zealand Customs Service (a) ....................................................................................................................
of .....................................................................................................................
is (b) .................................................................................................................
of trade mark number. .............................................in Class ...............................
A copy of the registration of the mark is attached to this notice.
 
The Chief Executive of the New Zealand Customs Service is requested to detain any goods,
on or in physical relation to which an infringing sign is used, that are in, or at any time come
into, the control of the New Zealand Customs Service.

This notice shall be in force for the period (c) ...............................................
Details of the person and business or residential address for the service of any notice are:
Name:.......................................................................................................................
Business/residential address:......................................................................................
Postal address: ...............................................................................................
Telephone number: ...............................................
Facsimile number: .................................................
E-mail: ........................................................................................................................
Dated this ............................................. day of ................................................ 20 ......

(d) ........................................................................... 

                                                                                                                                               

(a) Insert full name and address of registered owner or registered licensee of trade mark
(b) Insert whether registered owner or registered licensee
(c) Insert period that is not longer than five years from the date of the notice or, if the registration
of the trade mark will expire within five years from the date of the notice, not longer than the period
for which the registration will last
(d) Signature. 
                                                                                                                                              

Completed Notices should be sent to:
New Zealand Customs Service, Business Policy & Planning, Box 2218, Wellington
Attention: Avril Miles

This is not a Customs Service form — it is reproduced here for convenience.
_________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

Form of Notice under Section 137 of Trade Marks Act 2002
Security Under Trade Marks Act 2002
                                                                                                

PURSUANT TO THIS SECURITY ...........................................................................................
(the company), a duly incorporated company, its successors and assigns, having its registered office

at ................................................................................................................................................

is held firmly bound unto Her Majesty the Queen in the sum of ..................................................
to be paid to Her Majesty the Queen, her heirs and successors.

DATED this ......................................................... day of .......................................................

WHEREAS the company has by Notices (“the Notices”), effective from the date the Notices were accepted by the Chief Executive of the New Zealand Customs Service (“the Chief Executive”) informed the New Zealand Customs Service that certain goods imported would infringe the

trade marks owned by ............................................................................................................

AND WHEREAS the company has requested that such goods be detained under section 149 of the Trade Marks Act 2002.

NOW therefore the company agrees:

1. (a) That the sum of ......................................................... will be deposited in an interest bearing trust account at the offices of the New Zealand Customs Service. 
    (b) That the Chief Executive may recover from the said sum any administrative or legal costs incurred by the New Zealand Customs Service on account of - 
        (i) The examination or detention or determination of any goods following upon the information contained in any such Notices, and 
        (ii) Any proceedings consequent upon the examination and detention of such goods.
2. That the money will remain in the Trust Account for the period of the Notices and any subsequent renewals thereof or until the Notices are revoked. At the conclusion of the Notices this obligation will be void and of no effect.
3. In addition to Clause (1) above, the company shall keep the Chief Executive indemnified (inclusive of any administrative or legal costs that may be incurred by the New Zealand Customs Service) in respect of all actions, proceedings, claims, and demands during the period of the Notices.

Company Seal (or Company Name): ....................................................................................   

Authorised Signatory: .................................................................
Name: .................................................................................................................................
Position in Company: ....................................................................... ...................................
                                                                                                                                            

Completed Notices should be sent to:
New Zealand Customs Service, Business Policy & Planning, Box 2218, Wellington
Attention: Avril Miles

This is not a Customs Service form — it is reproduced here for convenience.
________________________________________________________________________________

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Form of Notice Under Section 136(1) of Copyright Act 1994

______________________________________________________

Form of Notice Under Section 136(1) of Copyright Act 1994
Notice Requesting Detention of Pirated Copies
______________________________________________________

To the Chief Executive of the New Zealand Customs Service
(a), ..................................................................................................................
of (b) .............................................................................................. claims that
(c) ... .....................................................................................is a work in which(a) .......................................................................................owns the copyright.
The title of the work is: (d) ... .............................................................................
The full name of the author is: (e) ... ...................................................................
In relation to a published edition, the full name of the publisher is: ... .....................
The year of the death of the author was: (g) ... .....................................
The year in which the work was made was: ... ....................................
In relation to a sound recording or film, the year in which the work was made and
the year in which the work was made available to the public by an authorised act was:......................
The country and year of first publication of the work were: (h) ... .................................
The status of the author or publisher at the time of first publication was: (i)   ............................................................................................................................
The Chief Executive of the New Zealand Customs Service is requested to detain any pirated copies of (c) ... ..................................................................................................................................
that are in, or at any time come into, the control of the New Zealand Customs Service.
This notice shall be in force for the period:(j) ...............................................................................
Details of the person and contact address for the service of any notice are:
Name: .........................................................................................................
Business/residential address:.........................................................................
Postal address: ... ........................................................................................
Telephone number: ... ............................................
Facsimile number: ... ..............................................
E-mail: .........................................................................................................
Dated this ... ....................................day of ................................... 20... .......

(k) ..........................................................................
________________________________________________________________________

(a) State full name of the owner of the copyright.
(b) State the address of the owner of the copyright.
(c) Describe the work in which copyright is claimed.
(d) State the title under which the work has been published or attached as a schedule.
(e) If the work is of unknown authorship, insert words to that effect. If the author is
company insert the name of the company, and the division within the company, that
produced the work.
(f) Delete if the work is of unknown authorship or if no author is still living.
(g) Delete if the author is still living or, if the work is a work of joint authorship, if one of
the authors is still living. If neither is the case, state the year of death of the author or
the last surviving author.
(h) If there was simultaneous publication in more than one country, state all countries.
(i) State the citizenship and domicile or residence of the author of the work or the
publisher of the edition or, if the author or publisher is a company, the name of the
country where the company is incorporated.
(j) Insert a period that is not longer than 5 years from the date of the notice or, if the
copyright in the work will expire within 5 years from the date of the notice, not longer
than the period for which the copyright will last.
(k) Signature.
________________________________________________________________________

Schedule
________________________________________________________________________

The works to which this notice relates are:
1. Listed below; or
2. Supplied in an electronic medium as agreed with the New Zealand Customs Service; or
3. Detailed in some manner (Specify).
(Delete the options which are not applicable.)
.................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................
__________________________________________________________________________

Completed Notices should be sent to:
New Zealand Customs Service, Business Policy & Planning, Box 2218, Wellington Attention:
Avril Miles

This is not a Customs Service form — it is reproduced here for convenience.
________________________________________________________________________

Security Under Copyright Act 1994
__________________________________________________________________________

PURSUANT TO THIS SECURITY  ...............................................................................
(the company), a duly incorporated company, its successors and assigns, having its registered office at .............................................................................................................................
is held firmly bound unto Her Majesty the Queen in the sum of ...............................................
to be paid to Her Majesty the Queen, her heirs and successors.

DATED this .................................................. day of ...........................................................
WHEREAS .............................................................................................. has by Notices (“the Notice”), effective from the date the Notice was accepted by the Chief Executive of the New
Zealand Customs Service (“the Chief Executive”) informed the New Zealand Customs Service that certain goods imported would infringe the

copyright owned by ..............................................................................................................

AND WHEREAS the company has requested that such goods be detained under section 140 of the Copyright Act 1994.

NOW therefore the company agrees:

1. (a) That the sum of ......................................................... will be deposited in an interest
bearing trust account at the offices of the New Zealand Customs Service. 
    (b) That the Chief Executive may recover from the said sum any administrative or legal costs incurred by the New Zealand Customs Service on account of -
         (i) The examination or detention or determination of any goods following upon the information contained in any such Notice, and 
        (ii) Any proceedings consequent upon the examination and detention of such goods.
2. That the sum will remain in the Trust Account for the period of the Notice and any subsequent
renewals thereof or until the Notice is revoked. At the conclusion of the Notice this obligation will be void and of no effect.
3. In addition to Clause (1) above, the copyright holder shall keep the Chief Executive indemnified
(inclusive of any administrative or legal costs that may be incurred by the New Zealand Customs Service) in respect of all actions, proceedings, claims, and demands during the period of the Notice.

Company Seal (or Company Name): ...............................................................................

Authorised Signatory: .................................................................

Name: .........................................................................................................................

Position in Company: ....................................................................................................

__________________________________________________________________________

Completed Security Forms should be sent to:
New Zealand Customs Service, Business Policy & Planning, Box 2218, Wellington
Attention: Avril Miles

This is not a Customs Service form — it is reproduced here for convenience.

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Security Under the Trade Marks Act 2002 and Copyright Act 1994

__________________________________________________________________________________

Security Under the Trade Marks Act 2002 and Copyright Act 1994
__________________________________________________________________________________

PURSUANT TO THIS SECURITY ...............................................................................................(the company), a duly incorporated company, its successors and assigns, having its registered

office at ....................................................................................................................................

is held firmly bound unto Her Majesty the Queen in the sum of ...................................................... to be paid to Her Majesty the Queen, her heirs and successors.

DATED this .............................................. day of .....................................................................

WHEREAS the company has by Notices (“the Notices”), effective from the date the Notices were accepted by the Chief Executive of the New Zealand Customs Service (“the Chief Executive”) informed the New Zealand Customs Service that certain goods imported would infringe the

trade mark and copyright owned by ............................................................................................

AND WHEREAS the company has requested that such goods be detained under section 149 of the Trade Marks Act 2002 and under section 140 of the Copyright Act 1994.

NOW therefore the company agrees:

1. (a) That the sum of ......................................................... will be deposited in an interest 
        bearing trust account at the offices of the New Zealand Customs Service. 
    (b) That the Chief Executive may recover from the said sum any administrative or legal costs incurred by the New Zealand Customs Service on account of: 
        (i) The examination or detention or determination of any goods following upon the information contained in any such Notices, and 
        (ii) Any proceedings consequent upon the examination and detention of such goods.
2. That the sum will remain in the Trust Account for the period of the Notices and any subsequent renewals thereof or until the Notices are revoked. At the conclusion of the Notices this obligation will be void and of no effect.
3. In addition to Clause (1) above, the company shall keep the Chief Executive indemnified (inclusive of any administrative or legal costs that may be incurred by the New Zealand Customs Service) in respect of all actions, proceedings, claims, and demands during the period of the Notices.

Company Seal (or Company Name): ....................................................................................................

Authorised Signatory: .................................................................

Name: .................................................................................................................................

Position in Company: ...........................................................................................................
__________________________________________________________________________________

Completed Security Forms should be sent to:
New Zealand Customs Service, Business Policy & Planning, Box 2218,
Wellington Attention: Avril Miles

This is not a Customs Service form — it is reproduced here for convenience

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