Intellectual Property Rights; not just a term, but a shield for brands

Structuring and shielding a business brand is not a child’s chore. There are numerous facets that need to be measured in order to be legally protected at the initial stage itself. It is highly crucial to check if the brand name is free and available or else this may cause legal trouble later.

Registration of the trademark is critical too, though not a mandate by law, it is still a good idea to register your trademark; it acts as a shield incase of a legal issue that arises as it protects your brand name nationally. If not at the initial stage then sometime later one might expect to expand the business, which is the time when all this legal work comes into play.  

Also registering a Trademark in itself acts as a means of brand protection service in India. At any given point, whenever the business model plans expansion, to defend your brand against violation you need must register your trademark and follow other IPR guidelines as well.

When it comes to online business, getting a domain name is pretty essential. Even if the business is not strictly online and internet is just a medium to publicise the brand, domain name is needed for creating a company website.  It is a crucial factor to register the best before someone else takes it and you are charged extra for something that, if taken in time would have costed you the minimum.

Other essential quality of following the IPR guidelines is that it minimises the damage caused by duplicate brands, not only for the brand but for the people buying it as well. At an initial stage, one is not sure as to how the business design will widen. Despite the fact that any business is at a starting phase, there might be a day that sees exceptional prospects to expand the brand in not just India but across the globe. Hence, It is also important to have a brand identity that is well protected against infringement. For the same, one needs to make sure that the brand is protected against bootlegging of any kind. Originality is an essence of every successful business. Original quality and brand is an integral part of a progressive trade and economy. Hence, if not protected against infringement, the fakes might overtake by stealing the brand identity and creating duplicates that will hurt your brand image and reputation.

There are companies such as Brands and Fakes running successfully that help you identify and fight all kinds of IPR threats prevailing in the economy. Though, it is extremely important that in order to stop this venom of duplicity from spreading into the society, you follow and encourage the importance of IPR.