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Is Your Brand Name a Lawsuit Waiting to Happen?

Leonard Cousins

Trademark Tips Every Business Should Know Naming your business is one of the most exciting early steps, but it’s also one of the riskiest if done without care. A name that turns heads can also attract legal trouble if it overlaps with an existing trademark. In both New Zealand and Australia, trademark disputes are more…
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Don’t Give Away Your Million-Dollar Ideas

Leonard Cousins

Smart, Simple IP Tips Inspired by Real Companies What do Apple, Google, and Pfizer have in common? They don’t just innovate – they protect. For any business, intellectual property (IP) can be one of your most valuable assets. But without the proper protections, those assets can walk out the door. Real Risks, Real Stories These…
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Registered designs protect IP for startups
IP for Startups: Avoid the 5 Biggest Mistakes

Leonard Cousins

Understanding the essentials of IP can help your startup avoid common mistakes and ensure that your intellectual property is safeguarded.
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concept image of innovation
IP Policy: 10 Key Elements of an Effective Strategy

Leonard Cousins

Ensuring your valuable innovation does not end up in the hands of your competition requires more than good intentions and NDAs. A clear, enforceable intellectual property (IP) policy that aligns with your business strategy will support growth and success. This guide explains what an IP policy is and the 10 key elements it should cover.
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Patent Attorney doing freedom to operate search
Freedom to Operate Search: Why Every Startup Needs One

Leonard Cousins

A Freedom to Operate (FTO) search is a critical step for startups. Without proper checks, you could unknowingly infringe on someone else’s intellectual property (IP), resulting in legal threats or a costly rebrand. This guide explains what an FTO search is, why it matters, how it’s done, and the real-world consequences of skipping it.
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Inventor needs protection for IP
A Practical Guide to Patents, Trademarks, and Copyright in NZ

Leonard Cousins

Understanding the differences between patents, trademarks, and copyright in New Zealand can help you effectively protect your IP and avoid legal and financial risks.
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Apple is an example of effective IP Protection
5 Professional Lessons in IP Protection

Leonard Cousins

Intellectual property (IP) is one of your business’s most valuable assets. Yet many companies — often without realising it — leave their innovations exposed. A new product concept, a software tool, or proprietary research can quickly lose its value if not adequately protected.
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Trademark Tips Every Business Should Know

Leonard Cousins

Is Your Brand Name a Lawsuit Waiting to Happen? Naming your business is one of the most exciting early steps, but it’s also one of the riskiest if done without care. A name that turns heads can also attract legal trouble if it overlaps with an existing trademark.
Read More
Protecting a brand with registered trade marks - word marks or logo marks
Trade Mark Rights: Is a Word Mark or Device Better?

Leonard Cousins

When protecting a brand, businesses frequently face the dilemma of whether to register their trade marks as word marks or logo marks. This decision greatly influences the extent of protection and the brand’s future adaptability.
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