Trade mark monitoring and watch services
We scan trade mark registers weekly and our IP lawyers review every result before alerting you. Monitor the Australian register from $1,550/year (ex GST), extend to our Priority 5 markets covering AU, NZ, US, UK and EU, or request custom global coverage.
“Kate has overseen our global trademark portfolio for the past few years, providing consistent and reliable support across new filings, enforcement, and general portfolio management.”
Jemima Harris
Chief Legal Officer
Megaport
How trade mark monitoring works
Each week, our systems compare newly filed trade mark applications against your mark. Our IP lawyers then screen every result, filtering out false positives so you only hear about genuine risks.
Weekly register scanning
Our automated systems scan trade mark registers every week to identify new applications that could conflict with your brand.
Australia or international coverage
Monitor your trade mark on the Australian register, extend to our Priority 5 markets package covering AU, NZ, US, UK and EU, or request custom global coverage.
Lawyer-reviewed screening
Every result is screened by our IP lawyers before it reaches you, filtering out false positives so you can focus on what matters.
Informational alerts
When a potential conflict is identified, we send you a clear, plain-English summary so you can make an informed decision about next steps.
What we review and what we filter out
We review every monitoring result for genuine risk. That means assessing how similar the newly filed mark is to yours and whether there is meaningful crossover in the goods and services claimed. A mark in an unrelated field, or one that shares only a superficial resemblance to yours, is unlikely to pose a real threat.
800+potential conflicts reviewed by our lawyers every week
Many automated monitoring services that do not include lawyer review produce a high volume of false positives. Our review filters those out so you do not have to spend time assessing each result yourself.
If a result does represent a genuine risk, we send you an alert explaining the conflict, the level of risk, and your enforcement options. Where further action may be warranted, we can provide a complimentary preliminary assessment and fee estimate. The sooner you identify potential infringement, the more options you have.
“Markster has done a fantastic job managing our trade mark portfolio while operating as a seamless extension of our team. Kate and Chris have a refreshingly commercial approach that prioritises practical advice. They've helped us protect our brand, minimise risk and support our growth.”
Luke Fletcher
CEO
Foxo
Why monitor your trade mark
Most businesses only think about trade mark monitoring after they have experienced an infringement issue. By that point, the damage is done. A conflicting mark may already be registered, in use, and building equity in the market. Enforcing your rights at that stage is significantly more expensive and less certain than acting early.
Proactive monitoring lets you act while opposition is still an option. In Australia, you have a two-month window to oppose a trade mark application after it is published. Miss that window and your only recourse is court proceedings or cancellation actions, both of which are slower and costlier.
It is the trade mark owner’s responsibility to enforce their rights. IP Australia and other registries will not do it for you. Monitoring helps you meet that responsibility without having to watch the register yourself. If you have not yet secured your rights, the first step is registering your trade mark.
- Act within the two-month opposition window instead of facing costly court proceedings later
- Detect conflicting applications before the applicant builds brand equity you would need to displace
- Reduce enforcement costs. Opposing a pending application is a fraction of the cost of litigation
- Maintain a complete picture of your competitive landscape across key markets
- Demonstrate to investors and partners that your IP portfolio is actively protected
Why we recommend monitoring from day one
We filed a trade mark for a client’s logo. It was registered without issue. We recommended monitoring, but the client decided not to proceed. It is a common decision when there is no immediate threat on the horizon.
Shortly after, someone else filed a near-identical logo. IP Australia accepted that application too. There was no automatic alert or notification to our client.
The only reason we discovered the conflict was because we later filed new applications as part of the client’s brand expansion, which were blocked by the other registration. Their expansion plans were held up by a mark that probably should not have been registered in the first place. They had to deal with the time and cost of overcoming the objection.
The client now has monitoring in place. IP Australia does not monitor the register on your behalf. They tell you this in your trade mark registration letter. If you have a registered trade mark, make sure someone is watching the register for you.
Simple, transparent pricing
Annual subscriptions with no hidden fees. All prices exclude GST.
Australian monitoring
Best for businesses operating in Australia with no immediate international expansion plans.
- Weekly Australian Trade Mark Register scanning
- Every result screened by our IP lawyers
- Lawyer-screened informational alerts
- Monthly monitoring report
Priority 5 markets
Best for brands already operating in or expanding into international markets.
- Everything in Australian monitoring
- Coverage across AU, NZ, US, UK and EU
- Weekly register scanning
- Lawyer-reviewed alerts and plain-English summaries
Global monitoring
Custom-scoped monitoring across broader international markets.
- Custom jurisdiction mix
- Managed by our team
- Lawyer-reviewed alerts
- Quote required before activation
Common questions about trade mark monitoring
Answers to frequently asked questions about trade mark monitoring and watch services.