If you believe registering your business name will stop other businesses using the same name, you’re not alone. Many small business owners are operating under this popular misconception, which could prove a costly experience, both financially and emotionally . More...

Identifying the right grant for your business early on will save precious time and improve your chance of success. The application process takes considerable time and effort so there is an opportunity cost and impact on your business to consider. More...

The global marketplace creates a myriad of opportunities for innovative firms to expand their operations. Licensing of intellectual property (IP) rights, such as patented technologies, copyrighted software, or trademarked brands, can be one of many attractive options for exporters seeking to leverage their business skills in international markets as a globalisation strategy. More...

Businesses looking to enter and participate in the Chinese market are often concerned about how their intellectual property (IP) will be protected. Cautionary anecdotes often leave those businesses with the mistaken view that it is not worth trying to protect themselves, due to the lack of formal protection and/or inadequacies and complexities with the enforcement regime. More...

If you thought about protecting your brand on Twitter and intend to use Twitter to help promote your business, you should consider registering your trade marks as Twitter User IDs. Be aware however that Twitter may suspend your account if it is inactive for greater then 6 months. More...

There are numerous strategic and legal reasons why a company might need to assign a monetary value to its IP assets. From a strategic point of view, IP can be valued to help in assessing the complete value of a company, beyond the tangible assets. More...

Many small business owners don't realise the importance of protecting their names and logos by registering trademarks in Australia. An even greater number make the mistake of registering trademarks locally but not looking at the bigger picture and ensuring that they are protected in their exporting ventures. More...

It's easy to get caught up in the excitement of attending a major trade show or fair, particularly when you have worked so hard to have your new product ready to show the world. However without adequate IP protection and some practical tips, you may be putting all of your hard work at risk before you secure the first buyer. More...

Footage from the episode may help you better understand why protecting trade marks is crucial to your business.
To view the footage please select a media format below.

Clip 1 - Windows Media Player (9MB)		Clip 1 - Quicktime (12MB)
Clip 2 - Windows Media Player (13MB)		Clip 2 - Quicktime (16MB)

Please note: Assisted Filing Service is now called TM Headstart.

(As seen on Your Business Success on Channel 9, 22 April 2007)

Most successful business owners will tell you that it is a smart start to ensure that IP protection and management is an integral part of your business plan. A variety of business plans are available for you to download and fill out for your business. For information on the benefits of having a business plan. More..

Confidentiality agreements can give you some protection when you need to disclose secret information for meetings with potential investors or business partners. Download this agreement generator and fill in the details prior to discussing your innovation or idea. More..

The Contractor Agreement Generator is a software application that builds a contractor agreement for you. It asks you a series of questions. Your responses will tailor the contractor agreement to your specific needs.
It also provides choices to help you tailor the agreement to suit your particular transaction, and provides 'help' text to assist you in deciding which choices to make. More..

Learn the IP tango: the 10 Steps to Making Money from Smart Ideas will guide you through the process of turning your new idea into profit! More..

A wealth of patent, trade mark and designs information is contained in IP Australia’s databases, which can be searched free of charge. More..

The Official Patent, Trade Mark and Designs Journals are produced by IP Australia on a regular basis and contain a range of information including material on new trade mark, design and patent applications/registrations. The online versions of the journals are searchable and PDF copies are available to download. More..

You can apply for a trade mark online with IP Australia. More..

You can apply for an innovation or standard patent online with IP Australia. More..

Using the fee calculator, you can find out how much it will cost you to apply for a trade mark overseas. More..

IP Australia provides a number of subscription based mailing lists to keep users up to date with recent events and changes at IP Australia. More..