Following the implementation of the 13th edition of the Nice Classification, the Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand (IPONZ) has updated its Conflicting Goods and Services List and the related Conflicting Class Table. The change that deserves close attention is the wider treatment of Class 9 goods: software, electronics and digitally enabled products are now more visibly connected with traditional product categories when similarity is assessed.
This is guidance rather than a rigid rule, but it will affect how applicants read clearance results in New Zealand. A brand used for connected devices, software-supported consumer goods or platform-linked hardware may face a broader conflict field than a purely class-based search would suggest. For applicants, the practical step is simple: do not isolate Class 9 from the physical goods it supports or controls; review both sides together before filing.
