Business Name Registered? Here's Why You Still Need a Trademark

Jonathan Tiwari
Jul 14
2 min read

Don’t confuse company registration with brand protection.

If you've registered your business name, congrats! You’ve taken a huge first step. But here’s what many entrepreneurs in Trinidad and Tobago don’t realize:

Registering your business name doesn't protect your brand.

That protection comes from trademark registration which is a completely separate process.

🔍 What’s the Difference Between Company Registration and a Trademark?

🏢 Company Registration	🛡️ Trademark Registration
Makes your business legal	Protects your brand identity
Required to operate	Optional but highly recommended
Done via Companies Registry	Done via Intellectual Property Office
Prevents identical names from being registered	Prevents similar names/logos from being used commercially

If you’ve started a café, clothing brand, digital service, or any business with a name, logo, or tagline, then your brand is your asset. And that asset needs protection.

Example Scenario: Ember & Oak (Fictional)

To make this clearer, let’s look at a fictional but realistic example:

Imagine a boutique café called Oak & Ember. They’ve already registered their business name—but they take it a step further and apply to trademark their name and logo.

Why?

Because even though “Oak & Ember Ltd.” is protected as a company name, someone else could legally start using “Ember & Oak” or a similar logo in the food and beverage industry.

By trademarking their brand identity, Oak & Ember lock down their space in the market and avoid future confusion or legal disputes.

This type of situation plays out all the time in the real world.

What Can You Trademark?

Business Name (word mark) → 📝
Logo (device mark or combination mark) → 🖼️
Slogan or Tagline → 💬
Unique Product Names or Packaging → 📦

Each of these needs to be filed as a separate application, especially if you use them differently (e.g. logo variations).

How to Register a Trademark in Trinidad & Tobago

search → apply → wait → register

Do a Search:
Check the IPO’s registry to make sure your mark isn’t already taken.
Prepare Your Documents:
You’ll need a clear image of the mark, list of goods/services (under Nice Classification), and ownership details.
Submit the Application:
You can file in person or through an authorized agent like Ascensio.
Examination & Publication:
The IPO reviews the application and publishes it for public opposition.
Registration & Certificate:
Once accepted, the trademark is valid for 10 years, renewable indefinitely.