Safeguard Yourself with advice from Registered Patent and Trademark Attorneys
REPRESENTATION
Don't take the wrong steps then seek advice. It may be too late.
REGISTERED PATENT AND TRADEMARK ATTORNEYS
Keep life easy by being represented.
Specialised Intellectual Property Services — Australia-Wide and International
Australian Patent & Trademark Services (APTS) is an Adelaide-based specialist intellectual property practice providing patent, trade mark and registered design services to businesses, inventors and designers throughout Australia and internationally.
With professional experience dating back to 1998, APTS helps businesses protect, manage and commercialise their intellectual property.
Our services cover the intellectual property lifecycle, including patent applications, trade mark searches and registration, registered designs, examination and prosecution, dispute-related advice and ongoing IP portfolio management.
As an independent specialist boutique practice, APTS combines extensive intellectual property experience with direct senior attorney involvement and a personalised approach that places professional advice and client relationships at the centre of our services.
Our work extends beyond preparing and filing applications. We provide practical legal and strategic advice to help businesses make informed decisions about ownership, the scope of protection, potential conflicts, commercial opportunities and the ongoing management of their intellectual property rights.
Why Businesses Choose APTS
Strategic, Practical Advice
We help clients understand their options, identify relevant risks and evaluate the practical implications of different protection strategies. Our advice is directed towards securing commercially meaningful rights, rather than treating an application as an end in itself.
Direct Senior Attorney Involvement
Our boutique service model provides direct access to experienced intellectual property professionals, continuity of advice and personal attention throughout your matter. We take the time to understand your circumstances and explain important considerations so you can make confident, informed decisions.
Experience Across Intellectual Property
Our experience spans patent, trade mark and registered design matters, from initial protection strategies and application preparation through to prosecution, portfolio management and commercial IP considerations. This breadth of experience helps us identify issues that may otherwise be overlooked.
Professional Recognition
Our Director has been a Fellow of The Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia (IPTA) since 2002, reflecting a longstanding commitment to the intellectual property profession.
Australian and International IP Capability
We assist Australian businesses with domestic intellectual property protection and international filing strategies. We also work with overseas businesses, patent and trade mark attorneys, and intellectual property firms requiring Australian IP services and representation.
Ongoing Portfolio Management
Intellectual property requires attention beyond the initial application. We assist with deadline and renewal monitoring, portfolio administration, reviews of existing rights and advice on evolving business requirements. Our in-house-developed proprietary IP management software supports portfolio tracking and administration.
Patents
Protect your inventions, innovations and technological developments.
Your invention may represent years of research, development and investment. A carefully prepared patent application can help establish valuable intellectual property rights and support future commercialisation opportunities.
Our registered patent attorneys provide strategic advice, patent searches, application drafting, filing and prosecution. We consider the technical features of your invention, the scope of protection sought and your commercial objectives.
Whether you are developing a new product, technology, system or process, we can assist with Australian patent protection and coordinate international filing strategies where required.
Trademarks
Protect your brand identity, reputation and commercial goodwill.
Your business name, logo and branding are valuable assets. Effective trade mark protection helps safeguard your reputation and competitive position.
Our registered trade mark attorneys provide searches, risk assessments, application preparation, filing and prosecution. We consider ownership, conflicting rights, classifications and the scope of protection.
We also assist with renewals, disputes, portfolio management and international protection strategies, helping you maintain valuable brand rights.
Registered Designs (products)
Protect the distinctive appearance of your products.
The visual appearance of a product can be a valuable commercial asset and an important point of difference in a competitive market.
Our registered design services help businesses and designers protect eligible product features, including shape, configuration, pattern and ornamentation.
We assist with design protection strategies, application preparation, registration procedures and international filing options, helping you secure rights that support your product development and commercial objectives.
Find out what we do
IP Searches & Risk Assessment
Identify potential risks before investing in your intellectual property.
Before launching a brand, developing an invention or commercialising a product, understanding existing intellectual property rights can help avoid costly disputes and unnecessary expenditure.
We provide patent and trade mark searches, assess relevant existing rights and advise on potential registration obstacles and commercial risks.
Our practical advice helps you make informed decisions about protection strategies, filing options and the next steps for your business.
International IP Protection
Extend your intellectual property protection beyond Australia.
Expanding into overseas markets creates valuable opportunities, but intellectual property rights generally require protection in each relevant country or region.
We assist Australian and international businesses with overseas patent, trade mark and registered design protection, working with our established network of international IP associates.
From international filing strategies to coordinating applications and ongoing matters, we help you manage protection across multiple jurisdictions efficiently and strategically.
IP Portfolio Management
Manage and maintain your intellectual property assets with confidence.
Obtaining intellectual property protection is only the beginning. Effective portfolio management helps preserve your rights, control costs and support your long-term commercial objectives.
We manage Australian and international patent, trade mark and registered design portfolios, including deadlines, renewals, ownership records and ongoing registration requirements.
Supported by our proprietary IP management system, we provide organised, proactive oversight of your intellectual property assets as your business develops and expands.
Strategic Patent, Trade Mark & Design Protection
Your ideas, innovations and brand deserve protection that reflects their true commercial value.
Whether you’ve developed an innovative product, built a distinctive brand or invested years in a new technology, your intellectual property may be among your business’s most valuable assets. Protecting it properly today can make a significant difference to your opportunities tomorrow.
At Australian Patent & Trademark Services (APTS), we look beyond the application itself. We help you identify what is worth protecting, anticipate potential legal risks and develop patent, trade mark and registered design strategies aligned with your commercial objectives.
With direct access to experienced registered attorneys, you receive considered, practical advice tailored to your circumstances, not simply a standard filing service. Our focus is on helping you build, maintain and confidently manage valuable intellectual property rights in Australia and internationally.
Ready to Protect Your Intellectual Property?
The right intellectual property advice today can help protect years of investment tomorrow.
Whether you’re launching a brand, developing an invention or bringing a new product to market, early professional advice can help you avoid costly mistakes and secure protection that supports your commercial ambitions.
At Australian Patent & Trademark Services, you’ll deal directly with experienced registered attorneys who take the time to understand your objectives and recommend a practical, tailored protection strategy.
Your Trusted Australian IP Partner
Australian Patent, Trade Mark & Design Services for International Clients
Expanding into Australia? Work directly with experienced Australian registered IP attorneys.
Protecting intellectual property in a new jurisdiction requires local expertise, clear communication and dependable representation. We assist overseas businesses, multinational companies and foreign IP firms with securing and managing intellectual property rights throughout Australia.
Our services include Australian patent, trade mark and registered design applications, prosecution, renewals, portfolio management and strategic advice on Australian IP requirements.
As a specialist boutique practice, APTS offers direct senior attorney involvement, responsive communication and a personalised service model. We work closely with international associates to provide practical, commercially focused Australian IP support.
Your Intellectual Property Deserves More Than an AI Answer!
Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini and other AI tools can provide answers.
But will those answers protect what you’ve worked so hard to create?
Filing an application is not the same as securing
effective protection. Poorly drafted patent claims,
unsuitable trade mark coverage, overlooked design
features or incorrect ownership can leave valuable
intellectual property exposed.
Our registered attorneys look beyond registration.
We identify potential risks and develop tailored
strategies to help protect your inventions,
brands and product designs.
Don’t leave your valuable intellectual property
to generic advice. Get professional guidance
before costly mistakes arise.
What Our Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys Do
Strategic Protection for Your Brands, Inventions & Product Designs
Valuable intellectual property deserves more than a standard application. It requires professional advice, careful preparation and a strategy aligned with your business.
At Australian Patent & Trademark Services (APTS), we assist Australian and international businesses in protecting their innovations, brands and product designs through patents, trade marks and registered designs.
Our attorneys provide:
- Strategic IP Advice & Searches: Assessing intellectual property, identifying potential risks and advising on appropriate protection strategies.
- Patent Protection: Advising on patentability, preparing and prosecuting patent applications, and developing strategies to protect technical innovations.
- Trade Mark Protection: Assessing brand registrability, advising on ownership and classifications, and managing applications and examination objections.
- Registered Design Protection: Advising on protection for the visual appearance of products, including design applications and registration requirements.
- Ongoing IP Portfolio Management: Managing renewals, monitoring deadlines and advising on the maintenance and commercial management of IP rights in Australia and internationally.
Our objective is not simply to obtain registrations, but to help you establish valuable intellectual property rights that support your business today and into the future.
Turn Your Intellectual Property Into a Business Advantage
Protect Your Ideas. Strengthen Your Business. Create Opportunities for Growth.
Intellectual property is more than a legal registration. Properly managed, it can become one of your business’s most valuable commercial assets.
Whether you’re launching a new product, building a recognised brand, attracting investors or expanding internationally, your intellectual property strategy can influence the long-term value and competitiveness of your business.
A well-planned IP strategy can help you:
- Build a More Valuable Business: Establish identifiable IP assets that can support business valuations, investment discussions and future sales.
- Commercialise Your Innovations: Explore opportunities to license, manufacture or commercialise patented inventions and protected product designs.
- Strengthen Your Market Position: Use appropriately registered trade marks, patents and designs to help distinguish your business and protect valuable competitive advantages.
- Support International Expansion: Plan overseas protection before entering new markets, appointing distributors or establishing international partnerships.
- Prepare for Future Opportunities: Align IP ownership and protection with licensing, franchising, investment and business succession plans.
At Australian Patent & Trademark Services, we combine specialist intellectual property expertise with practical commercial insight to help businesses make informed decisions about protecting and managing their IP assets.
The right intellectual property strategy should do more than protect what you’ve created. It should support what you want to achieve next.
See What Our Clients Say About Working With APTS
As a startup organisation seeking help with trademarking our company’s name and logo we had been directed to Alex Ferrante for some free advice. Alex went above and beyond the call of duty by giving us over an hour of his time when only 30 minutes had been booked. He was very informative, helpful and clear about the process of obtaining a trademark. And he followed up soon after the meeting with the promised summary of our situation and suggested way forward
IAN SHARAM
Alex was incredibly helpful, he was clear, concise and comprehensive. I would recommend him to anybody with any doubts about the processes involved.
ANDY CAMPBELL
STEPHEN ROYAL
A big thank you to Australian Patent & Trademark Services. Alex has given me a precise strategic pathway to follow backed up by his professional advice and knowledge. I highly recommend Alex and his team to guide you in the right direction. Thanks again.
GREGG COLBERT
How We Work With You
-A Clear, Professional Approach to Protecting You-
1. Understand Your Needs
We discuss your business, invention, brand or product design to understand your objectives and identify appropriate IP protection options.
2. Assess & Advise
We assess relevant legal requirements, investigate potential conflicts where appropriate, and recommend a strategy suited to your circumstances.
3. Prepare & Manage
We prepare and lodge applications, manage examination requirements and advise on objections or other issues that arise.
4. Support Your IP Long Term
We assist with renewals, portfolio management, overseas protection and ongoing IP advice as your business develops.
Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys Serving Australia-Wide
Based in Adelaide. Supporting Businesses Across Australia.
Wherever your business operates in Australia, you can access specialist patent, trade mark and registered design services through Australian Patent & Trademark Services (APTS).
Based in Adelaide, our boutique intellectual property practice assists startups, established businesses, innovators and international companies throughout Australia, including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Canberra, Hobart and Darwin.
You don’t need to engage a large metropolitan firm to receive experienced, professional intellectual property advice. Our clients benefit from direct access to experienced attorneys, personalised service and clear communication, regardless of their location.
From initial advice and IP searches to applications, examination responses and ongoing portfolio management, we provide coordinated intellectual property services across Australia.
International Patent, Trade Mark & Registered Design Protection
Protect Your Intellectual Property Beyond Australia
Expanding into international markets? Australian intellectual property rights generally do not extend automatically to other countries.
Whether you are exporting products, entering overseas markets, appointing international distributors or building a global brand, securing appropriate intellectual property protection is an important part of your commercial strategy.
Australian Patent & Trademark Services (APTS) assists businesses with international patent, trade mark and registered design protection through an established network of overseas intellectual property associates.
Our international IP services include:
- International Patent Protection – Overseas patent filing strategies, including Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) applications and national or regional patent procedures.
- International Trade Mark Registration – International brand protection, including Madrid Protocol applications and direct national filings where appropriate.
- International Registered Design Protection – Coordinating overseas design applications to protect the distinctive visual appearance of products in relevant markets.
- International IP Coordination – Managing international filing strategies, prosecution requirements and deadlines in collaboration with overseas associates.
International filing deadlines and public disclosure requirements can significantly affect your ability to obtain protection. Seeking advice early can help preserve important filing options.
Our approach is to identify commercially important markets, assess relevant protection options and develop a coordinated international IP strategy suited to your business objectives and budget.
Planning to expand overseas? Speak with our experienced attorneys about protecting your intellectual property internationally.
Book an International IP Consultation →
Alternatively, call 1300 138 802 .
Frequently Asked Questions About Patents, Trade Marks and Intellectual Property
Find answers to common questions about protecting inventions, registering trade marks, securing product designs and working with registered patent and trade mark attorneys in Australia.
1. Why should I use a registered patent or trade mark attorney instead of an online filing service?
Filing an intellectual property application is only one part of obtaining effective protection. The ownership, wording, classification and scope of an application can significantly influence the rights ultimately obtained.
Online filing services and DIY applications may overlook important legal and commercial considerations. For example, an incorrectly classified trade mark or inadequately drafted patent specification can leave valuable aspects of a business unprotected.
A registered attorney provides specialist advice, assesses relevant risks and develops a protection strategy suited to your commercial objectives.
2. Why does experience matter when choosing a patent or trade mark attorney?
Experience is particularly important when preparing applications, assessing potential conflicts and responding to objections raised by IP Australia.
Decisions made during drafting and examination can affect the scope, validity and commercial value of your intellectual property rights.
At Australian Patent & Trademark Services, our professional IP experience dates back to 1998. We combine technical understanding, specialist legal knowledge and practical commercial advice.
3. What can go wrong with an intellectual property application?
Common problems include incorrect ownership, inadequate trade mark descriptions, poorly drafted patent claims, unsuitable design representations and missed filing deadlines.
Some deficiencies may not become apparent until an application is examined, opposed or challenged during a commercial dispute.
Importantly, obtaining a registration does not guarantee that the rights are valid, sufficiently broad or immune from challenge.
Professional advice before filing can help identify and reduce avoidable risks.
4. Why should I conduct an IP search before filing or launching my business?
Intellectual property searches can identify existing rights and earlier disclosures that may affect your proposed brand, invention or product.
A business name registration, domain name search or basic online search does not establish that your proposed trade mark is available for use or registration.
Professional searches and assessments can help identify potential conflicts, registration obstacles and commercial risks before substantial resources are committed.
5. Does registration with IP Australia guarantee my intellectual property is legally protected?
No. Registration or grant establishes important legal rights, but those rights remain subject to applicable legislation and potential legal challenges.
Questions concerning ownership, validity, infringement and the scope of protection may arise after registration.
For example, a registered trade mark may be vulnerable to removal for non-use, while a patent may be challenged on patentability or other legal grounds.
Australian registered designs generally require examination and certification before infringement proceedings can be commenced.
6. How long does it take to register a trade mark, patent or design in Australia?
Timeframes depend on the type of intellectual property, application procedures, examination requirements and whether objections arise.
Australian trade mark registration generally takes several months, even for straightforward applications. Patent applications can take considerably longer.
Registered designs follow a different process involving registration and, where required, examination and certification.
Early professional advice can help you plan appropriate filing strategies around product launches and commercial deadlines.
7. Does registering a business or company name protect my brand in Australia?
No. Registering a business name or company name does not itself provide exclusive registered trade mark rights.
A business name may be available for registration even where another party has earlier trade mark rights that could affect your intended use.
A registered trade mark can provide valuable exclusive rights in relation to the goods or services covered by the registration, subject to applicable law.
Obtaining professional trade mark advice before investing in branding can help reduce the risk of costly disputes.
8. What rights does a registered trade mark give me in Australia?
An Australian registered trade mark provides its owner with exclusive rights to use, authorise others to use and deal with the registered mark in relation to the relevant goods and services, subject to applicable law.
These rights may support infringement action, brand licensing, business transactions and the development of commercial goodwill.
The practical value of a registration depends on its ownership, scope, validity and the goods or services it covers.
9. Can I sell, license or transfer my registered trade mark?
Yes. Registered trade marks are intellectual property assets that can generally be assigned, licensed or transferred, subject to applicable legal requirements.
Trade mark licensing may support franchising, commercial partnerships and royalty arrangements. Ownership transfers may also form part of business acquisitions or brand sales.
Appropriate documentation and ownership arrangements are important to preserving the value of these rights.
10. Should I register my business name, logo or both as trade marks?
The appropriate approach depends on how your brand is used and which elements are commercially important.
A word trade mark generally protects the registered wording independently of a particular logo design. A logo registration protects the mark as represented in the application.
In some circumstances, separate word and logo applications can provide useful complementary protection.
A registered trade mark attorney can assess your branding and recommend an appropriate filing strategy.
Have a Question About Protecting Your Intellectual Property?
Speak directly with experienced registered patent and trade mark attorneys about your invention, brand, product design or intellectual property strategy.
Alternatively, call 1300 138 802 .
Supporting Professional Standards and Industry Engagement
