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 […]
Have you found out that one of your competitors has the same business name as you? You may be wondering whether you can still trade mark your business name. Thankfully, there are some options. In most circumstances, when another business has a similar name to you but provides different goods and services or is in […]
Trade mark disputes are becoming increasingly commonplace as a result of the competitive nature of the consumer market. However, trade mark disputes often lead to unwanted legal proceedings that are both costly and time-consuming. This article outlines the different instances in which a trade mark dispute can arise, and how to avoid disputes. Trade Mark […]
When you start a business, you have a lot of decisions to make. You might be thinking about what kind of product to sell, where to set up your business and how to hire employees. However, protecting your phrases, taglines and other elements you use to market your goods and services is often overlooked. You […]
Even though the terms ‘trade mark’ and ‘trade dress’ may seem interchangeable, there are some key differences between the two. You should know the difference between the two terms to ensure that your business’ brand is adequately protected. This article outlines the key differences between a trade mark and a trade dress. Trade Mark or […]
Before moving forward with registering a trade mark for your logo or catchy jingle, you will have to make sure no one else has already trade marked something similar. Infringement cases can be costly if you do not do your prior research. This article will explore: what a trade mark is; how infringement comes about; […]
One of the biggest mistakes a business owner can make when launching their new business is failing to protect their brand. A distinctive brand image is an essential part of a business since it allows consumers to differentiate your business from competitors. This article focuses on: how trade marks can protect your business’ brand; and […]
If you are thinking of sharing your original photograph or image online, you might also want to protect it from being copied and used by others. Copyrighting your photograph or image is the most effective means of protection. However, whether you can protect your original work from being copied will depend on whether you have […]
Unless you intend to trade under your own name, you must register your business name. However, it is important to note that registering your business name does not automatically give you rights over the name. If you want to have exclusive rights to your business name, you will need to apply to register a trade […]
It might be surprising to know that many unofficial third-party organisations scam Australian trade mark and patent owners. These scams are frustrating and costly, leaving many Australian IP owners unable to retrieve their lost funds. To help you avoid trade mark and patent scams, this article outlines: known features of trade mark and patent scams; […]
