The ATO has issued a reminder about trademarks!

For background, a trademark legally protects your brand and helps customers distinguish your products or services in the market from others. Trademarks can be used to protect a logo, phrase, word, letter, colour, sound, smell, picture, movement, aspect of packaging, or any combination of these. In short, they protect your brand, products and services.

Trademarks are different from a business name which is the name you trade under.

For exclusive rights to your business name, you’ll need to protect it with a trademark. This will help you:

• protect your name and stop others from trading with it
• get exclusive use of that trademark throughout Australia
• have protection in all Australian states and territories for an initial period of ten years.

Trademarks are intellectual property. Other types of intellectual property include:

• patents 
• design rights
• plant breeder’s rights
• copyright
• trade secrets.

While you don’t need a registered trademark to apply for an ABN, registering a trademark for your business name, logo, or other sign means you have exclusive rights to use your trademark in Australia.

A registered trademark is a licensable and saleable asset. It also provides a legal avenue to stop others from using it on similar goods and services. A 5-minute check can help save you a lot of disappointment and work.

Check out IP Australia for more information and get your trademark sorted today.

The same ATO release reminds taxpayers of the business registrations and insurance that may be required for your new business.

As a new business, you may also need to:

• register for goods and services tax (GST)
• register for pay as you go (PAYG) withholding and meet your super obligations for any employees you hire
• register for fringe benefits tax (FBT) when you are providing fringe benefits to your employees.

You can apply for an ABN and other key business registrations through the Business Registration Service.

You may also need business insurance and licences to protect your business. It’s important to understand the licences and permits you need to do certain activities and help protect your business and employees.

Disclaimer: This update is intended as general information and is not tailored to individual circumstances.  Please get in touch with us if you would like specific advice.