{"id":91,"date":"2025-12-19T03:22:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-18T17:22:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wallington-dummer.com\/blog\/?p=91"},"modified":"2026-07-15T12:58:11","modified_gmt":"2026-07-15T02:58:11","slug":"7-common-misconceptions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wallington-dummer.com\/blog\/7-common-misconceptions\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Common Trade Mark Fallacies"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Jennifer Song \/ Senior Associate<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fallacy 1<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Registration of a company or business name will give me trade mark rights \u2013 False<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The registration of a company or business name with ASIC will not <\/em>give you exclusive rights to use that company or business name. However, the registration of a trade mark can give you exclusive rights to use that company or business name within your field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fallacy 2<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Registration of a domain name (eg. www.xyz.com)<\/em> will give me trade mark rights \u2013 False<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The registration of a domain name will not <\/em>give you exclusive rights to use that domain name. However, the registration of a trade mark can give you exclusive rights to use that domain name within your field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fallacy 3<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A family trust can be the owner on record of a trade mark application\/registration \u2013 False<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The owner of a trade mark must be a \u201clegal personality\u201d. A trust is not a \u201clegal personality\u201d so cannot own a trade mark. However, the owner can be the trustee of a trust (ie. Individual or company).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fallacy 4<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Common, generic, descriptive words\/phrases can be easily registered as trade marks \u2013 False<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Given a trade mark registration gives the owner an exclusive right to use the trade mark in respect of the field of interest (ie. goods and\/or services claimed in the trade mark registration), common, generic and descriptive words\/phrases are not easily registrable unless the applicant\/owner is able to demonstrate that the common, generic or descriptive word\/phrase has been used to such a significant extent that the Australian consumers identify that common, generic or descriptive word\/phrase as being the goods\/services of the applicant\/owner. An example of a common, generic, descriptive word that was registered due to its significant use in Australia is \u201cJust Jeans\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fallacy 5<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If I register a trade mark in Australia, I get trade mark rights in New Zealand \u2013 False<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you register your trade mark in Australia, your exclusive rights to use the trade mark apply in Australia only. A trade mark application needs to be lodged in NZ (and in other countries of interest). Sometimes an International trade mark application via the Madrid Protocol can be used to lodge in multiple countries at the same time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fallacy 6<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If I use the \u2122 symbol next to my trade mark, I own the trade mark \u2013 Incorrect<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anyone can use the \u2122 symbol to indicate to others that it is using the sign as a trade mark (and not in a descriptive sense). You do not need to have a trade mark application or registration in order to use the \u2122 symbol. However, use of the \u2122 symbol does not mean that the trade mark is registered or that the entity using the \u2122 symbol has exclusive rights to use that trade mark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fallacy 7<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I can use the \u00aesymbol next to my unregistered trade mark \u2013 Incorrect<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The \u00ae symbol can only be used next to trade marks that are registered. A fine can be imposed by the ACCC for improper use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have any trade mark related questions, reach out to Jennifer Song today.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Jennifer Song \/ Senior Associate Fallacy 1 The Registration of a company or business name will give me trade mark rights \u2013 False The registration of a company or business name with ASIC will not give you exclusive rights to use that company or business name. However, the registration of a trade mark…<\/p>\n

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