🎇 Happy New Year! Is your business ready for 2021? 🎇

Kwik Kopy
1300 251 787

Find your local Kwik Kopy Centre

  • Locations
  • Quote
  • Services
  • About
  • Blog
  • FAQ
Menu
  • Home
  • Printing
  • Business Cards
  • Design
  • Posters & Signage
  • Web & Digital
  • Marketing
  • Zenith Hub
  • Buy a Franchise
  • Blog
Home How to Trademark a Logo in Australia
Trademarking a logo

How to Trademark a Logo in Australia

Author: Karin Ingram - Posted date: 08/01/2014 - 5 min read
Blog Category: Design Ideas
  • Blog Categories

  • Print Tips & Advice (83)

  • Design Ideas (80)

  • Marketing Ideas (179)

  • General Interest (81)

  • Franchising Blog (79)

  • Websites & Digital (155)

  • Community (3)

  • Case Studies (14)

  • Posters and Signage (65)

  • Business Cards (22)

Trademarking a logoHow many businesses could you identify solely based on an individual shape, colour, word, phrase, sound, scent, letter, number or image? Loads of companies come to mind which require nothing more than their symbolic shape or colour as identifiers. Think the golden arches, Louis Vuitton’s LV monogram, Google’s colour palette, the Nike tick or the scent of iconic perfume, Chanel No5.

All of these elements contribute to brand equity and can be secured by registering them as trademarks. A trade mark is enforceable under Intellectual Property (IP) law and is used to set apart your goods and services from your competitors. This ultimately protects your business from others using elements of your brand identity.

Why do I need to trademark my logo?

The more successful your business, the more valuable your trademark becomes. This makes it increasingly more important for you to protect your business and brand reputation. As the owner of a registered trademark you have a multitude of different rights. According to IP Australia your rights include:

  • Exclusive rights to use your registered trade mark as a brand name for the goods or services registered.
  • Exclusive rights to authorise other people to use your trademark.
  • Trademarks become personal property and can be sold.
  • Registration of your trademark will usually be covered nationally.
  • You will be in a stronger position to stop people from using your trademark as their brand name on similar goods or services registered.

What elements of my logo can I actually trademark?

You’d be surprised at how many different elements of a brand you can trademark. After all, there is more than one factor which makes up your brand identity. Not only can you trademark a scent, movement or sound you can even trademark plants! IP Australia provides a full list on the different types of trademarks including the registration process for individual elements.

How do I apply for a trademark?

First you need to determine if you’re eligible to apply for a trade mark. In order to do so, you must:

  • Intend to use it in relation to the goods and services you’re registering for.
  • Be an individual, company, incorporated association or a combination of these.
  • Apply for the trademark as an individual (business owner) and not as a business name.
  • Ensure your trademark doesn’t conflict with other trademarks already registered (if you’re unsure you can check via the Australian Trademark Online Search System)

There are a couple of points you’ll need to watch out for as there are particular signs which are prohibited and may make it difficult for you to register a trademark. This includes:

  • Denoting the kind, quality, intended purpose or value of the goods or services.
  • Using common surnames or geographical names.
  • Conflicting with an earlier trade mark.
  • Or have the potential to mislead the public about the nature of the goods or services.

Apply for a Standard Trademark Online

If you’re comfortable that your potential trademark meets the requirements as outlined above you can simply apply for your trademark online. Your application will be examined by IP Australia to ensure it adheres to the law and does not conflict with an existing trademark, this generally takes around 13 weeks.

Registering a trademark for your business is a relatively simple if you follow the rules surrounding the process. Ensuring your trademark application is unique and relevant to your product or services and doesn’t conflict with existing trademarks will help speed up the process. 

  • Blog Categories

  • Print Tips & Advice (83)

  • Design Ideas (80)

  • Marketing Ideas (179)

  • General Interest (81)

  • Franchising Blog (79)

  • Websites & Digital (155)

  • Community (3)

  • Case Studies (14)

  • Posters and Signage (65)

  • Business Cards (22)

back to top

About Kwik Kopy

Kwik Kopy is 100% Australian-owned and operated. We have been serving the Australian small and medium business community for over 35 years, with a network of more than 90 Print & Design Centres located across Australia.

We appreciate that every business is different, from reliable business printing, poster and banner printing, creative graphic design or innovative online solutions, we can help you achieve your current and future business goals.

Buy a Franchise

Start your franchising journey with Kwik Kopy, the leading provider of printing, graphic design, marketing services and online solutions for small businesses throughout Australia.

Learn more about Kwik Kopy franchising opportunities by submitting the franchise enquiry form.

View our current Kwik Kopy Businesses for Sale.

Latest Posts

Business New Year Resolutions
Three New Year’s resolutions for 2021
18 January, 2021
Social Media Marketing
Work Smarter Not Harder Using this Marketing Strategy
02 November, 2020
Partner with other businesses to implement cross promotion
The Easy Way to Increase Profitability and Generate More Sales
23 October, 2020

Social Links

Kwik Kopy Facebook Kwik Kopy Youtube Kwik Kopy LinkedIn Kwik Kopy Instagram

Kwik Kopy
About us
  • Kwik Kopy Locations
  • Request a Quote
  • Send a File
  • Why Choose Kwik Kopy?
  • Employment
  • Blog
  • In the Press
  • Environmental Statement
Services
  • Printing Services
  • Business Card Printing
  • Graphic Design
  • Posters & Signage
  • Marketing Services
  • Web & Digital
  • Conference & Event Printing
  • Eco & Green Printing Options
Franchising
  • Why Kwik Kopy Franchising?
  • A Proven Franchise System
  • Franchise Costs & Finance
  • Franchise Businesses For Sale
  • Own Your Kwik Kopy Franchise
  • Franchising FAQ
  • Franchise Blog
Help Centre
  • Call Us
  • Request a Quote
  • Kwik Kopy Locations
  • Terms of Trade
  • Privacy
  • Disclaimer
  • Site Map
© 2021 Kwik Kopy Pty Ltd. ABN 27 002 218 822

Thank you for your feedback.

© 2021 Kwik Kopy Pty Ltd. ABN 27 002 218 822