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ARTICLE · 21 SEPTEMBER 2021

Certification trade marks (CTMs): An underutilised resource

Corrs Chambers Westgarth
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CTMs indicate that goods bearing that trade mark possess a particular characteristic, or meet a particular standard.

AustraliaIntellectual Property
Jurgen Bebber
Jurgen Bebber
Alex Dunlop
Alex Dunlop
Clancy Reid
Clancy Reid
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Certification trade marks (CTMs) are an underutilised part of the Australian trade marks system, with only around 750 CTMs registered or pending at the time of writing (compared to around 860,000 conventional trade marks).

In this article, we consider the benefits of registering CTMs and review a recent decision by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), which highlights the criteria which must be met before a CTM is accepted for registration.

What is a CTM?

CTMs are a special type of trade mark used to indicate to consumers that goods bearing that mark (or services provided by reference to the mark) possess a particular characteristic, or meet a particular standard.

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