Trademark applications (and registrations) provide you with the tools to protect your business and investment; in fact they will become your most worthy business asset. There is a misconception that registering a company, purchasing the website names and registering for tax purposes provides you that isn’t 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 surgical treatments.
Questions often arise as to whether to register a brand. The simple answer is that it is imperative, providing the only form of protection that provides exclusive legal rights the following the company trademark for the specific goods and services, both in the offline and online environments; affording the business the capability to stop others from using your brand and potentially damaging the reputation of the business.
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 alternatives. The inclusion of a written description for this business’ offerings provides the legal specifics of a security program. It is important that the range of products and/or services that the organization produces is correctly classified into one of the 45 separate categories you can get.
It is important to focus on that trademark applications are country specific. For instance, this means that in case you have a trademarked business in New Zealand that currently is trading, or is proposing to trade, in Australia you should protect organization and business conception australia wide too. Having rights on the brand, logo and product offerings in New Zealand does not mean that you have 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 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 questionnaire 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 associated with trademark objection online reply filing India applications progress straight through to registration. Once the trademark registration is approved, the business will receive certification and approval being the exclusive user with the specified trademark for the range of goods and services applied for under the application.