How to trademark your Brand's name, logo and slogan in 2021.

We are protecting ourselves in 2021

Easy as ABC. [THREAD]

Trademarking yourself as a brand is important in order to protect yourself from copycats and other people imitating your brand and work.

The nice thing about trade marking is that you are protected for 10 years once you are registered.

Meaning even if your stop and close your business today no can start using your name, logo and slogan to market themselves.

Remember your registration of your trademark with CIPC only protect you within South Africa. Someone outside of South Africa can still imitate your brand.

To protect it international or in other countries it is another system and processes which myself don't fully understand.

Before you start the application process please go to search if your brand's name, logo and slogan is not already trademarked by someone else here:  http://www.cipc.co.za/index.php/find-enterprise-ip-informatr/sear/trade-mark-basic-search/

So the first step in registering your trademark is to get your classification of trademark which can be done through this link ( http://www.cipc.co.za/index.php/trade-marks-patents-designs-copyright/trade-marks/ho/classification-goods-and-services) note that there are 34 classes for goods and 11 classes for services so take your time....

....(classes is just a funcy word to say groups).  For each class a separate application must be done.

So if trademarking yourself fully needs 4 classes it means you will have to do 4 applications separate.

It will cost you R590 per class application which is payable through the CIPC (IP) website. Similar payment method as company registration. 

To start the application process you will need to go to the CIPC (IP) website which is:  https://iponline.cipc.co.za/Account/Login.aspx?pb=d78/xsNSyRNVfd7SpY3qewfx1/5WkLkOyeEWfTwjWm5QfbFjxEQfX2tlTvkHVwYl

Use the customer service login information you used to register your business. If you don't have one you can create one on the day using the same link above. 

N.B you don't need to be a South African citizen to Trademark, anyone can do it.

You will be given an application number after submittion which you will use as reference and also use it to protect yourself from anyone who tries to imitate your Brand while waiting for final approval. 

For more information:  http://www.cipc.co.za/index.php/trade-marks-patents-designs-copyright/trade-marks/ho/

Once approved you are protected under the trade mark act for 10 years but even if your are not registered with the trade mark act you are still protected by common law.

If you find the process hard you can use SwiftReg which is similar the process above but they will help you step by step. They will add thier own fees on top.

Watch this video from SwiftReg:

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