Trademark applications (and registrations) provide you with numerous to protect your business and investment; in fact they will become your most dear business asset. There the specific misconception that registering a company, purchasing the website names and registering for tax purposes provides you along with legal rights to protect your brand. This just isn’t the case; only a registered trademark can provide you with the legal backing to secure your venture and its future operations.
Questions often arise to whether to register a trademark. The simple answer is that it is imperative, providing the only form of protection that gives exclusive legal rights added with the company trademark status objected for the specific goods and services, both in the offline and online environments; affording the business the capacity to stop others from using your brand and potentially damaging the reputation of organization.
In respect to a trademark application, numerous aspects surrounding the brand and image of the company can be protected. Incorporate logos, phrases, taglines, colours, fonts and images. Furthermore, trademarks are registered for particular goods and suppliers. The inclusion of a written description within the business’ offerings provides the legal specifics of a security program. It is important that the range of merchandise and/or services that business produces is correctly classified into one of the 45 separate categories in existence.
It is important to highlight that trademark applications are country specific. For instance, this means that in case you have a trademarked business in New Zealand that is actually trading, or is proposing to trade, in Australia you should protect the company and business conception nationwide too. Having rights to your brand, logo and product offerings in New Zealand does not mean that you own the same rights in Australia; a separate trademark application must be wrote.
The process of a trademark application in both mentioned countries is very similar; however, there are longer confirmation times when applying for an Australian based trademark. The trademark application process in both countries are registered on the ‘first to file’ basis, which means that if another business or individual files a trademark application prior to your own, then they may gain the legal rights make use of the trademark. Once a tool is received, the trademarks office examined the application, searching for any potential issues in the application itself. It is then advertised for what is termed an ‘opposition period’, which enables other to lodge a complaint or objection re the instrument. However, objections are rare and the majority of trademark applications progress straight through to registration. When the trademark registration is approved, the business will receive certification and approval to be the exclusive user with the specified trademark for the range of goods and services applied for under the application.