What is a Trade Mark?

Your trade mark is probably the most valuable asset of your business. It distinguishes your goods or services from those of others and enables your customers (and potential new customers) to identify goods or services provided by you.

In many countries, rights to a trade mark can be obtained only by registering the mark at the relevant Trade Marks Office, and in all countries the best (ie, most easily enforceable) rights are obtained by way of trade mark registration.

Why Should I Register my Trade Mark?

Many people do not realise that registering a company name or a domain name will in many countries provide no enforceable rights, and the limited rights that such registrations provide in other countries are very much second best to a registered trade mark.

A trade mark registration enables you to prevent unauthorised use of your mark (or similar marks) by others. If you do not register your mark and someone else does register that mark (or even a mark that is similar to your mark) you could encounter objection and possibly even be prevented from continuing to use your own mark!

Registered trade marks can be licensed for use by others in return for royalty payments and can be sold for sometimes valuable consideration and can be maintained indefinitely provided the mark is in use and renewal fees are paid - usually at 10 year intervals.

Click here to enquire about trade mark registration.