A raft of changes to Australia’s trade mark laws which came into effect in late November and December 2025 will have a significant impact on small business owners around the country in the coming months and years. The Trade Marks Amendment (International Registrations, Hearings and Oppositions) Regulations 2025 amend the Trade Marks Regulations 1995.  They […]

Traders have always been expected to adopt trade marks honestly and to use them honestly.  Historically, in the event of an objection due to earlier similar trade marks, examiners were inclined to take a declarant’s word at face value when they were explaining why they’d chosen a particular trade mark and whether they had been […]

Global e-commerce has resulted in a vastly expanded range of products on the shelves that are manufactured overseas, often at lower prices. However, this has also meant that it can be more challenging for consumers who care about where a product comes from and how it is made to verify its quality. That’s where a […]

The end of another year is always a good time to take stock of how things have evolved in within the industry. Interestingly, trade mark applications to IP Australia have risen sharply over quarters one to three, with an increase of 20.8% over the same period in 2024. Of these, 67% were Australian applications and […]

The initial registration process of your trade mark/s is only the beginning of the journey (albeit the most time-intensive one). Under Australian law, the initial registration lasts for 10 years (from the date of filing) and you can renew the registration every 10 years – something that is crucial to ensure that you retain exclusive […]