Trademark applications (and registrations) provide you with numerous to protect your business and investment; in fact they will become your most valuable business asset. There the specific misconception that registering a company, purchasing the names and registering for tax purposes provides you this legal rights to protect your brand. This just isn’t the case; only an authorized trademark can provide you with the legal backing to secure your venture and its future operations.
Questions often arise on whether to register a brand. The simple answer is that it is imperative, providing the only form of protection that provides exclusive legal rights unit the company trademark status objected for that specific goods and services, both in the offline and online environments; affording the business the option to stop others from with the golf irons 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. Such as logos, phrases, taglines, colours, fonts and images. Furthermore, trademarks are registered for particular goods and businesses. The inclusion of a written description of your business’ offerings provides the legal specifics of protector. It is important that the range of products and/or services that enterprise 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 should you have a trademarked business in New Zealand that happens to be trading, or is proposing to trade, in Australia you should protect organization and business conception within australia too. Having rights towards brand, logo and product offerings in New Zealand does not mean that there are the same rights in Australia; a separate trademark application must be entered.
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 utilize 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 task. However, objections are rare and the majority of trademark applications progress straight through to registration. Once the trademark registration is approved, the business will receive certification and approval staying the exclusive user among the specified trademark for the plethora of goods and services inked under the application.