Trademark applications (and registrations) provide you with several to protect your business and investment; in fact they will become your most worthy business asset. There is a very common misconception that registering a company, purchasing the website names and registering for tax purposes provides you with the 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 surgical procedures.
Questions often arise on whether to register a trademark. The simple answer is that it is imperative, providing the only form of protection supplies exclusive legal rights unit the company trademark for the specific goods and services, both in the offline and online environments; affording the business the capacity to stop others from together with your brand and potentially damaging the reputation of the company.
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 services. The inclusion of a written description for this business’ offerings provides the legal specifics of policy. It is important that the range of goods and/or services that business produces is correctly classified into one of the 45 separate categories in the market.
It is important to spotlight that trademark applications are country specific. For instance, this means that when you’ve got a trademarked business in New Zealand that is already trading, or is proposing to trade, in Australia you should protect organization and business conception in australia too. Having rights on the 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 added.
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 a ‘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 utilize the trademark. Once computer software 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 task. However, objections are rare and the majority of trademark status objected applications progress straight through to registration. The actual trademark registration is approved, the business will receive certification and approval staying the exclusive user for this specified trademark for all the different goods and services requested for under the application.