Trade Marks

Trade Marks Honey & Blanckenberg

A “trade mark” is a sign used in relation to goods and services by a person or company for the purpose of indicating a connection between them and their goods or services, and distinguishing them from similar goods or services of others. This includes a word, brand, device, emblem, label, logo, packaging, slogan, symbol or any combination thereof.

Trade marks are valuable business assets which if properly cultivated can provide a business with a competitive edge and can be licensed or sold. A look at the value of some of the world’s famous trade marks shows that trade marks can be worth a great deal. It is therefore important for a business to protect its trade marks through registration. Registration of one’s trade mark provides the owner with a statutory right to protection of the trade mark throughout the country or region. In the event of use of an identical or similar mark by a competitor, the owner of a registered trade mark can protect the mark through the statutory infringement action, which is easier than relying on the common law action of passing off.

The Trade Marks practice provides advisory and registration services to local and international clients related to trade mark protection and enforcement in Zimbabwe, the African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO) and the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO).

The Trade Marks section provides the following services: trade mark searches, filing and prosecution; oppositions; renewals; recordal of changes; recordal of transfer of rights including licenses, mergers and assignments; enforcement and anti-counterfeiting litigation.