Designed your logo in Canva?
That Does Not Mean You Can Trademark It.
Canva has made it easier than ever to create logos. But here is something many business owners do not realise:
Just because you created your logo yourself — or even paid for Canva Pro — does not automatically mean it is eligible for trademark registration.
Here’s why
Many Canva graphics and design elements are:
- Used by thousands of other businesses
- Created from shared templates or licensed assets
- Not distinctive enough to identify your brand alone
So while your logo may look professional, it could still be rejected for trademark registration if it is not sufficiently distinctive, contains commonly used design elements, or is confusingly similar or even identical to an existing registered trademark.
Before you spend thousands on signboards, packaging or marketing materials, ask yourself:
- Is my brand name distinctive?
- Is my logo truly unique?
- Has someone else already registered something similar?
A trademark is not about how perfect the logo design is. It is about whether your logo is capable of legally distinguishing your business from others.
Planning to register your logo? Let us assess whether it is trademark-ready before you invest in your brand.
Thinking of opening a shop in Malaysia? Read this first!
Your signboard name ≠ company name — and that could cause an issue.
Many business owners assume that once they have registered a company (e.g. ABC Sdn Bhd), they are free to use any name they want on their store signage.
Not quite.
Here’s the catch:
If the name on your signboard is different from your registered company name, you may need a trademark to back it up.
Why?
Because when applying for a business premise or signboard license, the local council or Dewan Bahasa & Pustaka may ask for proof that you own the right to use that name.
And a registered trademark is exactly the strongest proof.
Example:
Your company is “ABC Sdn Bhd” but you want your signboard to be “Sweet Day Café” — no problem, as long as you can prove that your company is the owner of the trademark “Sweet Day Café” for café and restaurant services.
A trademark helps you:
- Smoothly secure your business & signboard license
- Legally protect your brand
- Avoid future disputes on branding ownership
Plan ahead — do not let paperwork stop your business before it even begins!
