Intangible assets · Australian business guide

Intellectual Property and Trade Marks

Identify what the business owns, what must be assigned or licensed and which names, designs or creations need registration or clearance.

At a glance

  1. 01

    Audit ownership

    Trace employees, contractors, founders, licences and third-party materials.

  2. 02

    Clear the brand

    Search existing marks and identify the goods and services that matter.

  3. 03

    Paper the rights

    Use assignments, licences and contract clauses that match actual use.

Selected reading

Understand the issue before deciding what to do next

Start with these articles for the key rules, then check the official sources before you act.

Trade mark classesContractor-created IP

Primary sources

Source links checked 20 July 2026. Confirm the current rule before acting.

Need help putting this into practice?

Put the right documents and advice behind your decision

This guide is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. The right path depends on the entity, documents and commercial facts.