Once IP Australia has advertised a trade mark application as accepted, there is a two-month window in which any third party can oppose the application. While the opposition process is relatively straightforward, it can quickly become a long and complex process if deadlines and evidentiary requirements are not met. This article outlines four tips you […]
To compete in today’s market, you must take the necessary steps to protect your business’ intellectual property – this includes protecting the name of your products. Unfortunately, as you grow your business, competitors will become more likely to steal or copy your product name. This can put your reputation and, therefore, the value of your […]
The trade mark registration process can at times be long and complex. So, naturally, a substantial amount of paperwork results from this process. For example, these documents may include your application itself, documents arising from the examination process and reminder notices of impending deadlines. Therefore, if you have a trade mark and are concerned about […]
As your business grows in both value and success, protecting your business logo becomes more important. One of the best ways to protect your business logo is to register it as a trade mark. A trade mark shows your competitors and consumers that you consider your logo a valuable part of your business – enough […]
Protecting your business’ intellectual property (IP) is a key part of your business’ success. Your brand is the very core of your business, so you must protect it. This means protecting elements of your brand with a trade mark, which provide you with exclusive rights to the use of your trade mark. The trade mark […]
When registering a trade mark, Australia’s intellectual property (IP) office, IP Australia, are required to assess your trade mark. For example, this includes ensuring that your trade mark meets the legislative requirements to be registered as a trade mark. In particular, there are stringent rules for trade marks used in the financial services industry. This […]
China is Australia’s largest trading partner, with two-way trade between China and Australia contributing to more than 24% of Australia’s total trade for the 2017-18 financial year. Therefore, when developing your business and determining its growth, you must account for potential expansion into China and the best way to protect your trade mark when doing […]
Section 44 of the Trade Marks Act refers to trade marks that conflict with trade marks that are already registered or pending registration. Therefore, if your trade mark does not meet section 44 upon examination, you will need to address this by supplying relevant evidence to overcome this objection. When providing section 44 evidence, there […]
More and more Australian businesses are expanding their products and services to overseas markets in this increasingly globalised world, either directly or online. Having an international trade mark is a great way to protect your brand during your overseas business practices. To help you better understand international trade marks, this article will take you through […]
Franchising is an increasingly popular business model in Australia, with franchises employing over half a million people and annual revenue exceeding $100 billion across more than 1,300 franchises nationwide. With the intellectual property (IP) of a business forming its entire brand identity, trade marks are the foundation of franchises. Therefore, whether you are a franchisor […]