Trademark applications (and registrations) provide you with resources to protect your business and investment; in fact they will become your best business asset. There is a common misconception that registering a company, purchasing the names and registering for tax purposes provides you along with 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 to whether to register a trademark. The simple answer is that it is imperative, providing the only form of protection that delivers exclusive legal rights unit the company trademark for that specific goods and services, both in the offline and online environments; affording the business the ability to stop others from with the golf irons brand and potentially damaging the reputation of the company.

In respect to a trademark application, numerous aspects surrounding the brand and image of the company can be protected. Like logos, phrases, taglines, colours, fonts and images. Furthermore, trademarks are registered for particular goods and suppliers. The inclusion of a written description of this business’ offerings provides the legal specifics of protection. 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 spotlight that trademark applications are country specific. For instance, this means that in case you have a trademarked business in New Zealand that happens to be trading, or is proposing to trade, in Australia you should protect vehicles and business conception within australia too. Having rights into the brand, logo and product offerings in New Zealand does not mean that there are 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 Objection Reply Filing online 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 to use 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 applications progress straight through to registration. Once the trademark registration is approved, the business will receive certification and approval to be the exclusive user with the specified trademark for the range of goods and services went for under the application.