Intellectual property
Intellectual property (IP) covers rights in areas such as copyright, trademarks and patents.
The IP chapter of the FTA contains mechanisms to promote cooperation and consultations between New Zealand and China on IP issues. Each country has agreed to enter into consultations at the request of the other to resolve any IP issue that arises within the scope of the FTA.
The NZ-China FTA reaffirms New Zealand and China's commitments on intellectual rights under the TRIPS (Trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights) agreement and other multilateral agreements.
Each country has agreed to establish and maintain transparent intellectual property rights regimes and systems that:
- Provide certainty over the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights
- Minimise compliance costs for business, and
- Facilitate international trade through the dissemination of ideas, technology and creative works.
The parties have agreed to cooperate to cooperate on eliminating trade in products infringing intellectual property rights, subject to the laws of each party.
A consultation mechanism means that New Zealand can request consultations to seek a timely and mutually satisfactory solution on any intellectual property issue within the scope of the FTA.
- Page last updated: 27 August 2008
