Record Trademark Filings Signal Strong IP Demand in Australia
Synopsis
Trademark filings in Australia reached a record 97,345 in 2025, driven by strong domestic demand and rising international interest, highlighting continued business investment in intellectual property despite shifting global trade patterns.
Australia's total applications for trademarks are at a record high, according to the Australian IP Report 2026, released by IP Australia, with the total applications for 2025 rose 13.3% up from 2024, to 97,345.
Meanwhile, trademark applications and registrations reached new highs this year, with the number of registrations rising to a record 70,614, an increase of 5.4% from the year before.
Businesses have kept investing in brand protection despite rising operating expenses and evolving international trade trends and consumer demands, as revealed by the latest data.
Applications for trademarks are often the initial signs of commercial activity as businesses generally apply for trademark protection when they are launching a product or service, or entering into a new market.
Of the 31,500 applications lodged by Australian residents, 21,500 were issued, representing 68.5%. Australian residents made up 57.4% of the total number of applications lodged in the year and 68.5% of applications issued.
The volume of domestic filings rose 15% from 2024, with local businesses accounting for the bulk of the record volume.
Services sectors and overseas applicants lift filing activity
IP Australia trade mark statistics showed that service industries experienced the highest growth, with financial services applications up 25.1% followed by construction services at 24% and scientific and technological services at 23.4%.
Demand for advertising and business management services also saw good growth as the services industry grew throughout Australia.
Interested in the international market as well. In 2025, trademark applications were made in Australia from 138 countries and territories, the highest number of countries and territories in the last decade.
Despite China surpassing the United States in trademark applications in 2024, it was still the biggest source of applications from overseas in 2024. Chinese companies filed 20.6% more applications than the previous year, whereas the number of applications from U.S.-based companies fell slightly.
Australia's significance as a destination for businesses to protect their IP in the Asia-Pacific region was highlighted by other major overseas filing markets, such as New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Germany and Japan.
The report also revealed direct applications (made directly with IP Australia) still surpassed applications under the Madrid international registration system for the third consecutive year, meaning more applicants are opting to file directly in Australia.
Report links trademarks with business performance
In addition to filing activity, the IP Australia Annual Report 2026 also provides insights into the economic contribution of IP. The report cited studies that revealed companies that registered their first trademark can double their sales per employee, compared with those that do not have registered intellectual property.
In recent years, however, trademark activity in Australia has been higher than before the pandemic, further strengthening Australia's position as one of the more active IP markets in the region.
As competition grows in goods and services, businesses, domestic and international, are once again giving brand rights top priority, according to the latest record.
Source: Capital Brief
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Pooja Malik is a business journalist with over six years of experience covering startups, entrepreneurship, and emerging trends. She has previously worked with leading media platforms such as YourStory Media and BW BusinessWorld, where she reported on business, policy, and market developments. Currently, she serves as Editor at The Inspirepreneur Magazine, where she writes and edits stories across business, lifestyle, and travel, with a focus on clarity, accuracy, and reader relevance.
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