🇦🇺 Australia · Trademark & IP
Trademark registration, patents, copyright, official IP offices, and filing costs.
Quick answer
Australian trademarks are registered with IP Australia. You search the register, file an application classifying goods/services under Nice, and after acceptance it is advertised for a two-month opposition period before registration. An Australian trademark lasts 10 years and is renewable; IP Australia also grants patents and registered designs.
Trademarks, patents and designs are registered with IP Australia.
- Trademarks, patents and designs are filed online with IP Australia.
- A registered trademark gives exclusive nationwide rights to use the mark.
- International protection can be extended via WIPO's Madrid (trademarks) and PCT (patents) systems.
Step-by-step
- 1
Search the register
Use Australian Trade Mark Search to check for identical or similar marks in the relevant classes before applying.
- 2
File the application
File with IP Australia, describing the mark and classifying the goods/services under the Nice Classification.
- 3
Examination and advertisement
IP Australia examines the application; once accepted it is advertised for a two-month opposition period.
- 4
Registration and renewal
Once registered, an Australian trademark lasts 10 years and can be renewed indefinitely for further 10-year terms.
- 5
Cover patents, designs and copyright
Protect inventions with patents and appearance with registered designs (both via IP Australia); copyright arises automatically.
- 6
Enforce and go international
Enforce your rights against infringers and use the Madrid Protocol to extend trademark protection abroad.
Checklist
- Australian Trade Mark Search
- Application (Nice classes + mark)
- Examination + 2-month opposition
- Registration (10 years) + renewal
- Patents + registered designs (IP Australia)
- Automatic copyright
- Enforcement strategy
- Madrid Protocol for international
Official authorities
- IP Australia
Trademarks, patents and designs.
Frequently asked questions
How long does an Australian trademark last?
Ten years from the filing date, renewable indefinitely for further 10-year periods.
Is copyright registered in Australia?
No — copyright is automatic on creation of an original work; there is no copyright registration system in Australia.
What is the Madrid Protocol?
An international system to seek trademark protection in many countries through one application based on your Australian filing.
Official-information aggregation, not legal advice. Always verify on the authority's own site.
Government portals
- Australian Government — Australian Government's official entry point — quick access to all department services
- Dept of Home Affairs — Student/work visas, skilled migration (189/190/491 subclasses), and citizenship applications
- Australian Tax Office (ATO) — TFN application, tax refunds, GST, superannuation, and personal income tax lodgment