League of Lawyers’ Post

How to protect your business name and logo

𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟, 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝟓 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬. When you pick a logo and brand name that you love, remember that it is going to constitute the face of your business for years to come. It should be unique! That’s when you get legal protection for it. That’s why you need to conduct a TM search to ensure no one else has a similar face to your brand’s. 𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐛𝐲 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟, 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝: 1/ Classify your product/ service first. You are going to conduct TM search only within the classes that your product/ service falls under. 2/ Look for similar marks, not just identical ones. Look for phonetic and visual similarity. 3/ Look for pending applications too, not just registered ones. Choose the right database. Go for the one pertaining to the territory where you’re going to register. 4/ Don’t forget to check if your brand name is available as a domain name.  𝘿𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙥 𝙞𝙣 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙏𝙈 𝙨𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙘𝙝 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙙’𝙨 𝙣𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙤𝙧 𝙡𝙤𝙜𝙤? 𝘿𝙈 𝙢𝙚 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙮. >>>>>>>

Will you be using this year to re-brand? If so - have you thought about what to consider when you re-brand your law firm logo? 👉 A logo is central to your branding. Your logo will be displayed on everything, from your website and letterhead to any corporate merchandise you create. Its job is to be instantly recognisable and memorable while also conveying the essence of your firm. In one of our articles, we give you an insight as to what other considerations you could take into account when re-branding or creating your logo: https://lnkd.in/eV_g_vB7 Why not share your new look in the comments below? I would love to see it!  #Rebranding #LegalMarketing #LegalMarketingExperts #LogoDesign #LegalMarketingTips #LegalServices

Starting a business is exciting, but protecting it is essential. Registering with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) means your business name is yours alone. No one else can register or operate under it. But here’s where it gets even better, trademarking takes your protection to the next level. A trademark means that no one else can use your brand’s unique features, like your name, logo, slogan, or even a popular idea tied to your business. Think of it as locking in what makes your business your business. So, what’s special about your brand? A catchy tagline? An eye-catching logo? Whatever it is, make it yours and yours alone by trademarking it. Ready to secure your brand? Don’t let others profit from your creativity—trademark that idea, slogan, or logo today

Looking to create a fantastic logo for your business? Check out these helpful do's and don'ts to make your logo stand out!

Startip #54 ™️ To trade mark a word, logo or both ®️ This week I was approached about a cease and desist issued to a client who had used words that were already captured in a registered trade mark logo. The concern was whether the client would have to change their branding because they were infringing on some one else’s IP. So this got me thinking…. I will return to this story at the end. While trade marks are a very powerful tool, and are used to protect intellectual property rights when it comes to a name, logo, a slogan or even a colour or scent, there are times when it might not be possible to trade mark a word. In my opinion it is always best practice to register for both a word mark(s) and logo mark (this could be a stylised version of the word mark or it might incorporate an image - often referred to as device mark). The reason for this is that the word mark protects the actual words in any format - it doesn’t really matter what style, colour, font or size the words are. If you have a registered trade mark for those words, they are protected in any format. On the other hand, a logo is your brand identity, and should also be protected so that you have the exclusive right to its use, meaning you can prevent others (including your competitors) from using logos of a similar nature, particularly if their intention is to pass themselves off as being associated with your business by riding on the goodwill you have built to gain exposure to their brand. But there is a catch. Sometimes word marks cannot be registered. If your word is generic and descriptive i.e it is not distinctive, it will likely fail registration. This is because other traders should not be prevented from using the word(s) in the course of running their business. For example, if you wanted to call your business “Real Deal” it woukd be difficult to register those words as a trade mark as they are too generic and descriptive and other traders should be entitled to use them. That’s not to say you couldn’t register those words as a logo mark, particularly if they are contained within the logo itself and are not simply a stylised version of the words. Meaning the logo has some element to it that would distinguish it from those words alone. Returning to my story, my advice to my client was that there was no trade mark infringement as the trade mark that was apparently being infringed was of a logo that contained generic and descriptive words that my client was using in the course of trade. The trade mark referred to could only protect the other brand insofar as that logo was concerned and would prevent my client or any competitor from using a confusingly similar logo. While I am sure the other party did at one stage attempt to secure the words, they obviously failed in their pursuit. There are certain things you can do to get a word mark, even if generic and descriptive. If you want to know more, hit me up! #trademarks #wordorlogo #startips #lazaruslegal #riseabove

Pro tip: When you launch your business, make sure you only have one version of your logo labeled as "Final". Not two Final versions with slightly different names, definitely do not do that. Otherwise, you'll have to spend a bunch of your weekend going through your newly created brand ecosystem, checking to see whether you managed to use the right logo there, or if you have to fix it. Ask me how I know (lol). Anyhow, this is the RIGHT logo. Swearsies.

Your business logo, name, and the slogan are three key elements that give the identity of your business, whether it is existing or new business. 👉 6 Reasons Why Your Business Need a Good Business Logo https://lnkd.in/dUQQF9DA

💼 Your Signature, Your Brand We often think big gestures define our professionalism, but sometimes it’s the little things that matter most—EMAIL SIGNATURE! ✨ It’s more than just a closing remark; it’s an opportunity to showcase your professionalism in just a few simple lines. Think about it—every email you send carries your name and your message, but your signature is the final touch that stays with the recipient 🖋️. Whether you're a new article assistant or a seasoned manager, a well-thought-out email signature is one of the easiest ways to show you care about the little details. And the best part? It takes just 5 minutes to set up 💼 Here’s how you can make it work for you: ✉️ Basic Details - Name, Title, and Contact Info Start with the essentials 📝: Your name Your designation Your contact info (phone number or even LinkedIn if it’s relevant) Company info (company name, address, logo, etc.) ✉️ Keep It Relevant A signature doesn’t need to be long. A few lines are enough—simplicity speaks volumes in a professional setting. Too much information can make your signature look messy.✅ ✉️ Color Scheme Matters Use colors that align with your company’s branding. It’s tempting to use a variety of fonts and colors, but consistency is key. One clean font and color scheme is always the way to go.🎨 ✉️ End with a Professional Sign-Off Finish off your email with a polished closing like: Best regards, Kind regards, Sincerely, Thank you. 📤 ✉️ Show Your Expertise Add a line about your specialty—this is a subtle way to let people know what you do best! For example, “Internal Audit” or “Tax Advisory.”💡 ✉️ Final Check for Professionalism Before you hit send, do a quick double-check to make sure your signature looks balanced and clean. If it’s clear, concise, and professional, you’re all set!✔️

🛡️ Why You Should Trademark Your Logo! 🛡️ Your logo is more than just a design; it's the face of your brand! 🌟 Don’t leave your brand’s identity to chance! Take the steps to trademark your logo and secure your place in the market. Your brand deserves protection! TM Law & Associates