IP Australia Updates Trade Mark Image Indexing Terminology

IP Australia Official Notices

Published April 13th, 2026

Detected March 21st, 2026

Summary

IP Australia is updating terminology used for indexing trade mark images, effective April 13, 2026. The changes aim to replace outdated terms with respectful, contemporary language, including updates related to Indigenous peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This update affects how certain imagery is retrieved during trade mark searches.

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What changed

IP Australia will update its trade mark image indexing terminology on April 13, 2026, to reflect respectful and contemporary language. Key changes include replacing outdated terms like 'ABORIGINE' with 'ABORIGINAL/ABORIGINAL+' and 'PERSON', using 'INDIGENOUS' as a descriptor instead of 'NATIVE', and expanding 'FLAG,TSI' to 'FLAG,TORRES-STRAIT-ISLANDER' with a new distinct term 'TORRES-STRAIT-ISLANDER'. These updates follow an internal review and consultation with IP Australia's Indigenous Knowledge Panel and will be reflected in the Trade Marks Manual of Practice and Procedure.

This update may impact trade mark search strategies, requiring attorneys and searchers to review their methods to ensure continued retrieval of relevant imagery. Existing records will be updated to maintain search continuity. No changes to trade mark legislation or examination practice are being made. Regulated entities with questions are directed to contact IP Australia.

What to do next

Review trade mark search strategies to incorporate updated indexing terms.

Source document (simplified)

Update to trade mark image indexing terminology

On Monday 13 April 2026, IP Australia will update some of the terminology used to index images in trade mark applications to reflect respectful, contemporary language.

Key changes

Removal of outdated terms ABORIGINE and ABORIGINE+ replaced by ABORIGINAL/ABORIGINAL+ and PERSON where these terms accurately describe the imagery
Replacement of people related uses of NATIVE with INDIGENOUS as a global descriptor
Replacement of abbreviated term FLAG,TSI with FLAG,TORRES-STRAIT-ISLANDER
Introduction of TORRES-STRAIT-ISLANDER as a distinct indexing term for imagery specific to Torres Strait Islander peoples. These changes follow an internal review and consultation with IP Australia's Indigenous Knowledge Panel.

This update will be reflected in the Trade Marks Manual of Practice and Procedure's Glossary of Image Descriptors.

What this means for you

These changes may affect how certain imagery is retrieved when conducting a trade mark search. Attorneys and people who conduct regular trade mark searches may wish to review their search strategies to ensure they continue to capture relevant results. Existing records will be updated to support continuity of search outcomes.

No changes have been made to trade mark legislation or examination practice.

If you have any questions about the updated indexing terms, contact us.

Published date 11 March 2026 Trade marks Apply Our website uses cookies to improve your experience. Learn more about how we use and collect data Accept Opt Out