Global Managing Attorney Sarah Norkor Anku has urged small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to register trademarks according to the specific goods and services they provide, cautioning that a one-size-fits-all approach leaves brands vulnerable to theft.
Speaking on the Joy Business Masterclass with host Yaw Anim Barnafo, Anku explained that registering a company name does not automatically protect every product or service under that business. Instead, each must be registered in its relevant class to secure legal protection.
Using a simple example, she noted that a trademark registered for bottled juice only protects the juice category. If the same company later launches laptops or cars, those products will not be covered under the original registration.
“If you have registered within the class for juices, the trademark will not protect your cars or computers, even if they are from the same company,” she said.
Anku stressed that diversified businesses must secure separate registrations for each product or service category. She also clarified that company registration is different from trademark registration, which protects brand identifiers such as names, logos, slogans, or other distinctive marks.
Highlighting the risks, Anku recalled a real-life case where a competitor pre-emptively registered a client’s trademark at the Registrar General, forcing the rightful owner into a costly and time-consuming legal battle.
“It is a long process. You can end up in court and spend a lot of money. Secure your trademark early and avoid unnecessary disputes,” she advised.
She added that even large corporations and media houses must ensure individual product names under their corporate umbrella are registered in their respective classes.
For SMEs, the takeaway is clear: a single trademark registration will not protect multiple, unrelated product lines. Without proper class-specific registration, businesses risk brand dilution, imitators, and expensive legal conflicts.
Anku urged entrepreneurs to identify their core brand identifiers and act quickly to secure them in the correct classes.
“Why don’t you just secure it yourself before somebody appropriates it?” she asked, stressing that prevention is far cheaper than litigation.
About the Programme
Joy Business Masterclass is a 45-minute business development show combining expert insights with interactive audience engagement. In this episode, Sarah Norkor Anku broke down complex legal principles into practical, actionable advice for entrepreneurs and start-ups.
source: myjoyonline
