Guidelines when deciding upon a proposed trademark


When deciding on your trademark, please keep the following in mind: Your trademark has to serve the purpose of distinguishing your goods or services from that of another trader. It must be unique and distinctive. New or made up words are generally stronger and easier to register e.g. Coca-Cola Your trademark cannot include specially protected … Continue reading Guidelines when deciding upon a proposed trademark

Trademark protection, business registration and CIPC


A smart business is one that not only stands out, but is compliant in respect of legal and industry standards and requirements. In order to operate legally in South Africa your company must be registered with CIPC, or the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission. This is formalized in terms of company name, operational activities, ownership … Continue reading Trademark protection, business registration and CIPC

Trademark protection, business registration and CIPC


A smart business is one that not only stands out, but is compliant in respect of legal and industry standards and requirements. In order to operate legally in South Africa your company must be registered with CIPC, or the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission. This is formalized in terms of company name, operational activities, ownership … Continue reading Trademark protection, business registration and CIPC

Certification and prohibited trademarks


A certification mark is any word, phrase, symbol or design, or a combination thereof owned by one party who certifies the goods and services of others when they meet certain standards. The owner of the mark exercises control over the use of the mark; however, because the sole purpose of a certification mark is to … Continue reading Certification and prohibited trademarks

The secret source of Big Brand Power


Jerry Mclaughlin writes the following for Forbes: It’s not a coincidence that every blockbuster brand began as a meaningfully different product or service for its time.  Milton Hershey made milk chocolate affordable.  The McDonald brothers (not Ray Kroc) gave us a way to get a good burger inexpensively and quickly.  Tom Monaghan – the founder … Continue reading The secret source of Big Brand Power

Some FAQ for trademarks


  Q: Can a company- or close corporation lodge an objection to a proposed trademark if its name is identical or very similar to the trademark? A:Yes. The trademark database is not linked to the company database and a separate search will be done, upon request and at additional cost. Q :How long does a … Continue reading Some FAQ for trademarks