Starting a new business involves a great deal of research. You need to decide on which type of business you want to open, what the new company’s name will be and the core functions of the business must be decided upon. In South Africa all of the above can be done through the CIPC – … Continue reading Intellectual property and your logo
Tag: Intellectual property
From CIPC: Intellectual property (IP) enforcement When a right holder discovers that his intellectual property (IP) rights have been infringed, or are about to be infringed, the focus of his attention shifts. He may have previously concentrated on how to obtain and make use of his respective rights, but now his attention will concentrate … Continue reading Intellectual Property enforcement
After registering your name, it is vital to upkeep the value of your company or product name. This involves using your trade name throughout your company on websites, brochures, and invoices. Don't forget to use the "®" symbol after you have approved registration from CIPC. If you haven't registered your trademark, you can use the … Continue reading Trademark maintenance
A brand is the identity of a specific product, service or company and may contain names, signs, symbols or slogans. Thebrand name is quite often used interchangeably within "brand", although it is more correctly used to refer to written or spoken elements of a product, service or company. If the brand name identifies the brand owner as the … Continue reading About brand names
Many people confuse patents, copyrights and trademark. The three have some striking similarities and are all designed to protect intellectual property; however they are different and also serve different purposes. In simple terms, the three are all forms of protection for you and your business, from anyone who may steal, misuse or illegally benefit from your … Continue reading MAJOR DIFFERENCES BETWEEN COPYRIGHT, PATENT AND A TRADEMARK
The patent journal of South Africa is a document created and issued by the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) of South Africa and contains information relating to patents, trademarks, designs and copyright in cinematographic films in existence in South Africa. The patent journal was formerly a printed publication that was available to view at the patents … Continue reading Understanding the patent journal in South Africa
It is hard to predict how long it will take for an application to mature into a registration since many factors can affect the process. Generally, an applicant will receive a filing receipt from CIPC almost instantly after filing. However, the total application processing time may be anywhere from 18 months to 3 years, or … Continue reading How long does it take for a trademark to be registered?
Many people assume they can protect their trademark simply by using the mark in commerce. It is true that you are not required to register a trademark to achieve some level of protection and that one establishes common law rights simply by using a mark in commerce. However, having a nationally registered trademark on the … Continue reading What are the benefits of a registered trademark?
National registration is not required to establish trademark rights. "Common law" rights arise from the actual use of a trademark without national registration. Generally, whoever first uses a trademark in commerce has the ultimate right to use that trademark in that way. However, there are many benefits of national trademark registration.
The choice between registering a trademark and a copyright is not always a clear one. Trademark and copyright registration are both means of protecting your intellectual property rights. There are, however, important differences between trademark and copyright protection. Copyrights are a form of protection for the authors of "original works of authorship," including literary, dramatic, … Continue reading How do I know if I need trademark or copyright protection?
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