Top 10 Mistakes to Avoid When Filing a Trademark with CIPC

Filing a trademark with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) in South Africa is a crucial step in protecting your brand. However, many entrepreneurs and small businesses make critical errors during the process that can delay approval—or worse, result in outright rejection. At Legal Legends, we specialize in trademark registration and other legal services to help you secure your intellectual property smoothly and legally. Here are the top 10 mistakes to avoid when filing a trademark with CIPC : 1. Skipping a Trademark Search Before filing, it's essential to check if a similar or identical trademark already exists. Failing to conduct a proper trademark CIPC search can lead to legal disputes or rejection of your application. A qualified business lawyer can help you perform a thorough search to avoid this pitfall. 2. Choosing a Generic or Descriptive Name CIPC may reject trademarks that are too generic or directly descriptive of the product or service. For ins...