06/08/2026
WhatsApp's new username feature is great. But don't confuse platform exclusivity with legal ownership.
Recently, I've seen quite a few people getting excited about WhatsApp's new username feature.
"I managed to secure my brand name as a WhatsApp username, no one else can use it!"
That's only partially true.
What you've secured is "your identity on WhatsApp". You've NOT automatically secured your brand in the legal sense.
A WhatsApp username simply prevents someone else from claiming the exact same username on that platform. That's a platform rule.
A "registered trademark", on the other hand, is a legal right.
It doesn't just protect against someone using the exact same name. Depending on the circumstances, it may also protect against names that are confusingly similar and likely to mislead consumers.
For example,
You have a registered trademark. Someone creates a WhatsApp username using your trademark and starts communicating with customers.
The fact that they managed to register the username doesn't necessarily mean they're legally entitled to use it. If their use infringes your trademark rights or creates confusion, you may have legal remedies available.
As more social media platforms introduce usernames, handles and digital identities, I expect we'll see more people assuming that "first come, first served" equals ownership.
Unfortunately, it doesn't.
Owning a username is a "platform privilege".
Owning a trademark is a "legal right".
They're related, but they're definitely not the same.
#商标 #商标注册 #专利 #知识产权 #外观专利 #实用专利 #版权 #工业设计 #马来西亚
