A trade mark is valuable intellectual property and should be treated with great care. Whilst there are avenues for DIY and online applications for trade mark registrations, the reality is that there are clear advantages to entrusting the process to skilled professionals. At face value, the procedure for a trade mark registration seems fairly straightforward. […]

The rise of digital communications has opened up the possibility of global trading for many businesses. If you are looking to establish an international operation or have plans to branch out beyond the borders at some stage in the future, it’s good business practice to register your business name as a trade mark internationally. Registering […]

When Oscar Wilde coined the phrase that ‘imitation is the sincerest form of flattery’, he clearly wasn’t thinking about the highly competitive world of business! A strong brand identity is a powerful marketing and brand-building tool and registering it as a trade mark provides the business with exclusive rights and protects their valuable intellectual property.   […]

Advertising slogans are everywhere.  They’re on our television screens and on the radio.  They’re on stadiums, buses, billboards and buildings and on our social media feeds.  They’re on products and packaging.  They’re emblazoned on clothing and they pop up on emails and letterheads.  They’re in our faces and if they’re catchy, they’re on our minds. […]

Many people assume that a business name and a trade mark are one and the same.  In fact, there are significant differences between the two. In order to answer the question of whether you can register an existing business name as a trade mark, it’s important to understand those differences and understand what steps you […]