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Functus Officio
"no longer in office"
Trademark Protection
If you are using a name for goods in your business you can only properly protect it by registering it as a Trade Mark. This will give you the exclusive right to use the name and to stop others from using it for similar goods. Trade Mark registration is different from business name registration at the Companies Registry or Domain name registration. Neither of these secure the exclusive right to use the name. All that the registration at Companies Registry does is stop some one registering another company or business with exactly the same name. If they change the name slightly they can register another company or business with an almost identical name. They can also try to use your name as their Trade Mark unless you get a Trade Mark registration.
Many new businesses with new products are launched onto the market without carrying out any Trade Mark checks. The last thing you want after you have spent your launch costs is to be faced with a Court Order to stop using the name, give up your infringing product and have to pay the costs of re-branding.
A Bahamian Trade Mark registration will provide you with the exclusive right to use your name in The Bahamas on the categories of products for which it is registered for a period of 14 years with the right to renew thereafter. Contact us for a consultation.