Many entrepreneurs assume registering a company name automatically protects their brand. It doesn't — a CIPC company name registration only stops another company registering the exact same name, while trademark registration is the tool that actually protects a brand identity against a much wider range of infringement.
Source: CIPC
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a registered company name the same as a trademark?
No — registering a company name through CIPC is a separate process from trademark registration, and only trademark registration protects a brand identifier against confusingly similar use.
Can a slogan or tagline be trademarked?
Potentially, yes — trademarks can cover business names, logos, slogans, product names, and in some cases even distinctive sounds or shapes.
How does trademark fit alongside the other types of IP?
It's one of four distinct types of protection a single product can carry at once — the full breakdown is in Copyright, Trademark, Patent, Trade Secret: The Four Types of Intellectual Property Every Business Should Know.