News

If your business is manufacturing in or exporting to China, securing your trade mark through China Customs is one of the smartest — and most overlooked — ways to protect your intellectual property.

This week, the spotlight is on Melbourne as it hosts Australian Manufacturing Week (AMW) 2025, a landmark event celebrating the strength and future of Australian manufacturing. But innovation alone isn’t enough — it must be protected.

Before you can protect or commercialise your intellectual property (IP), you need to know what it is. For most Australian businesses, your trade mark is often your most valuable IP asset — whether it’s your brand name, logo or product label.

China has tightened the rules for cancelling unused trade marks. These changes mean businesses must plan ahead, register their trade marks in China early, and keep records of genuine use. This report explains the key changes in plain English, why they matter to Australian SMEs, and what actions to consider.

A trade mark in the European Union (EU) is a crucial asset that grants businesses exclusive rights over their brand across all 27 EU member states. For Australian businesses expanding into the European market, securing an EU trade mark is a significant milestone. However, obtaining registration is just the first step—maintaining and renewing your trade mark is essential to safeguarding your brand’s integrity and commercial value.

In celebration of World Intellectual Property Day 2025, which this year carries the theme “IP and Music: Feel the Beat of IP”, IP Solved supports greater awareness around the role intellectual property plays in the global music ecosystem.