Trademarks

Business owners often make the mistake of confusing the registration of a business and its name with that of trade marking. It is possible to trademark company names in South Africa and it is recommended that you do so if you plan to build a brand name through your business.

You will only have exclusive rights to your business name if following the procedures to trademark company names in South Africa.

The business name should not be confused with a trade mark. People trademark company names to ensure exclusivity of usage and to give them grounds for litigation should someone produce, sell or trade under that name.

It also protects against imitations and subsequent confusion created about products or services.

By taking the steps to protect your business name from being eroded by competitors you can prevent future losses and damage to your business image by competitors.

We provide a wide range of services in Intellectual Property Law including searches to determine whether a similar trade mark has been registered, filing an application on your behalf, and ensuring that the name or logo you want registered does indeed qualify.

It is also considered beneficial to trademark company names as value is added to a business once the application is successful.

The name in itself then becomes a commodity that can be transferred or licensed for usage through an agreement.

Contact us to help you with the application process and for any license agreements that you may need.