We all know the terms trademark and copyright; after all, they
appear on just about every product we buy, or on marketing materials
for almost any service we use. But how many of us actually know the
difference between the two? Or that there even are differences? As
someone who specialises in the area of trademarks, Glenn Duker, solicitor, can explain.
What is a trademark?
A trademark is used to identify or represent a product or service
offered by one business in a distinguishable way from a similar one
offered by a competitor. The trademark can be anything from a name,
logo or slogan, through to a distinctive colour or smell that consumers
typically associate with the brand. Trademarks are applied for and
registered through IP Australia, a national government body, and are
not recognised officially or legally unless they are registered. A
trademark can be owned indefinitely, as long as the registration is
renewed every ten years.
What is a copyright?
Like trademarks, copyright deals with the ownership of intellectual
property. However it tends to be more for original ‘works’ that
typically fall within the realm of the creative such as books,
photographs, music compositions and plays. Unlike trademarks, copyright
is automatically applied to the owner’s work and they don’t need to
register it. People seeking to use another person’s copyrighted
material should seek permission first to avoid infringement and the
risk of hefty fines. Copyright typically lasts a lot longer than
trademark ownership; for example, ownership rights on all works
produced after January 2005 last the entire lifetime of their creator
plus an additional 70 years.
Hope this clears things up for readers. If you need assistance in
registering a trademark or arguing copyright infringement, get in touch
with solicitor Glenn Duker today.
Visit today :- https://au.linkedin.com/in/glennduker
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