Posts By: N Murray-Jones

Since 2016, news of Brexit has dominated headlines but in the past 12 months Brexit has disappeared from the front page as COVID began dominating our newsfeed.  However, Brexit has been quietly ticking along behind the scenes. The UK’s exit from the EU came into effect on 31 January 2020 and a transition period was […]

Fiji’s current trade mark law is based on British trade mark legislation enacted nearly a century ago and therefore it is well overdue for an overhaul. Currently, the Act provides for independent registration of trade marks in respect of goods but not services or registration as of rights based on United Kingdom registrations. Goods are […]

Late last year Amazon launched in Australia and while its arrival was a little underwhelming, online retailing is posing a number of challenges to brand owners including the ability to deal with the sale of counterfeit goods on Amazon. To assist sellers to protect their brands, Amazon has created the Brand Registry. While this program has been welcomed […]

Shape Trade Marks Prior to the introduction of the Trade Marks Act 1995 (Act) shapes were not registrable as trade mark, however Section 6 of the Act now includes “shapes” as a sign that can be registered as a trade mark, hence the birth of a shape mark, including 3-dimensional shapes in Australia. Registered Design […]

A distinctive trademark is the footing for a stellar reputation and the foundation of every successful business. But what exactly is a trademark? What is the relationship between trademarks, company names, business names and domain names?  And why should you register your mark, even if you have been using it for decades? With online activity […]

With the number of startups increasing each year, many new business owners are wondering how they can make their product or service stand out in a growing sea of competition. How do successful businesses get their products into the hands of consumers year in year out? And what are they doing with their branding that […]

What is a notary public? A notary public is a solicitor of at least 5 years standing who has been admitted by the Supreme Court as a Public Notary. Unlike Justices of the Peace (a JP), a notary public’s signature and official seal is recognised not only in Australia but also internationally. A notary public […]

If I had a dollar for every time I have heard “but I registered the business name without a problem, why can’t I have the trade mark?” I would be very well-off indeed! This is a common misconception and is the source of much confusion with businesses. Businesses looking to use a brand as their […]

So, you have come up with a great new brand name or logo. It is unique and no one else has it. Well done! What next? The next step (and one which is often forgotten) is to apply for your trade mark as soon as possible. This will ensure that your new brand or logo […]

How can local brand owners register trade marks internationally? First and foremost, trademark rights are territorial. So, trade marks should be registered in all territories where the mark is or will be used. Trade marks can be protected overseas in 2 ways: as an international application via the Madrid Protocol designating at least one country; […]