INA undertakes searches on company name, business name and trade mark databases for possible infringements before registering a new domain name. A trade mark is a letter, word, phrase, sound, smell, colour, shape, logo, picture, aspect of packaging, or any combination of these. It identifies a product or a service of a business and distinguishes it from similar products and services. As the owner of a trade mark you have exclusive legal rights throughout the whole of Australia to control the use of your trade mark for goods or services for which it is registered. You can also visit your nearest IP Australia Office and conduct a search of the database yourself, at no cost.
Professional searches are also available from legal practitioners and search firms.