How Anna protects her idea – in the right order

To ensure all of her rights, Anna should apply for protection in the correct order. This could be crucial to whether she is granted a patent – and whether she can retain the rights to the name she has chosen.

1. Patent protection – protects the technology behind the helmet (priority)

It is recommended that Anna start with the patent application. Patent protection requires that the invention has not been discussed, shown or used publicly before the application date. Not just in Norway, but throughout the world!

Recommendation:

• Anna should file the patent application first, before she makes the helmet public or seeks other types of protection. Once the patent application is filed, she can proceed with design and trademark registration.

2. Design protection – protects the appearance of the helmet

After submitting the patent application, Anna can apply for design protection. Design protection protects the helmet's unique appearance, which can be important in distinguishing the product from competitors' helmets.

Advantage:

• Once the patent application is submitted, Anna can publish the helmet's design without risking damaging the patent application.

3. The name "Galea" – when should she register it?

Anna wants to use the name "Galea" as a product name, brand name, company name, and domain name. But does she have to wait to register this until after the patent application? Not necessarily.

Name search.no

To find out if she can use the name without violating the rights of others, she should start with a simple and smart move:

She goes to navnesok.no and enters the name she is considering. Here she finds out:

• Whether the domain is available (e.g. galea.no)

• Whether the company name can be registered in the Brønnøysund Registers

• Whether someone has already registered the name as a trademark in Norway

This provides a quick overview of whether the name is available – and whether it is worth moving forward with it.

Domain name

Domain names are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis . If it's available and relevant, Anna should register it right away with a domain registrar . It's cheap and fast—and prevents someone else from taking it while she reviews the other applications.

Trademark

Before Anna registers her business name, she should check whether she can get the name registered as a trademark. This is because a trademark registration provides broader and stronger protection than a business name. Anna may also risk having to change her business name if someone believes that the name infringes on an existing trademark right.

Company name

Although it may seem logical to start with the company name, we recommend that Anna wait until she has checked and possibly secured the trademark rights. This will avoid conflicting with other people's rights. The company name does not always have to be the same as the trademark, so she also has more freedom of action here. The registration of the company name (at the Brønnøysund Registers ) can also take place before the patent application.

Prioritize the most important things first – and create a strategy

The most important thing is to secure the technology before it becomes known – therefore Anna should submit the patent application first, before seeking design protection or showcasing the product.

Once Anna has decided on a name, she should quickly research and register the domain name, business name, and trademark – so she can use the name safely and build her brand.