Trade Marks- Protecting Your Brand

The value of Apple’s brand was $124.2 billion in 2014. Microsoft’s brand was worth $63 billion. And Google’s brand was worth $56.6 billion. That’s a lot of money for an intangible asset. Even if your company’s brand isn’t worth as much Apple, Microsoft, or Google, it’s still worth protecting.

The most visible component of your brand are the logos, words or phrases that instantly identify your goods and services to customers. For example, the Nike swoosh or Google written in blue, red, yellow and green. These logos, words and phrases are also the easiest part of a business to copy.

That’s why it’s critical to file for protection of these logos, words and phrases in all countries that you use your brand. By registering your business’s trade marks, you make it illegal for another business to use your proprietary logos and phrases on their competitive products. Your trade marks, then, become your brand’s first line of defence.