Trademark Applications and Registrations
Trademark applications (and registrations) provide you with resources to protect your business and investment; in fact they will become your most valuable business asset. There is a misconception that registering a company, purchasing the fields and registering for tax purposes provides you with the 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 treatments.
Questions often arise to whether to register a logo. The simple answer is that it is imperative, providing the only form of protection that provides exclusive legal rights to use the company trademark for that specific goods and services, both in the offline and online environments; affording the business the option to stop others from the brand and potentially damaging the reputation of the actual.
In respect to a trademark application, numerous aspects surrounding the brand and image of the company can be protected. Insurance policies logos, phrases, taglines, colours, fonts and images. Furthermore, trademarks are registered for particular goods and suppliers. The inclusion of a written description of your business’ offerings provides the legal specifics of policy. It is important that the range of products and/or services that business produces is correctly classified into one of the 45 separate categories readily.
It is important to spotlight that trademark applications are country specific. For instance, this means that in case you have a trademarked business in New Zealand TM Status Objected India that is currently trading, or is proposing to trade, in Australia you should protect the brand and business conception around australia too. Having rights to your 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 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 cord less mouse with 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 job. However, objections are rare and the associated with trademark applications progress straight through to registration. When the trademark registration is approved, the business will receive certification and approval in order to the exclusive user belonging to the specified trademark for the range of goods and services applied for under the application.
