eBay Australia online trade mark play for AU$15 million

Trademark: Brainstorm® In what could be the first online auction of an Australian trademark (number 729121), began yesterday quietly on eBay, when intellectual property developer and sole trader, Electric Brainstorm, listed its primary assets online. In an attempt to gain attention for their sale for AU$15 million.

WHILE some people accumulate to speculate and sell personalised car number plates, others aspire to impress corporate buyers with a trophy trademark.

In what could be the first online auction of an Australian trademark (number 729121), began yesterday quietly on eBay, when intellectual property developer and sole trader, Electric Brainstorm, listed its primary assets online. In an attempt to gain attention for their sale for AU$15 million.

Brainstorm was registered as a trademark in 1997 before the tech-wreck and the micro business failed to find venture capital interest in its model of branded merchandise and computers, software and peripherals.

Electric Brainstorms owner, Mr. Darrell Morrison said It is time to move on and somewhat unfortunately, like the slow VC market in Australia, there seems to be no clear cut way to dispose of intellectual property in this country.

So Ill put the brand out there and see what the markets say. Looking at some of the major players and retailers, in my opinion, they are scratching their heads for unique house brand ideas. IBM springs to mind, as does Dick Smith Electronics. I am hoping someone will take up the possibilities where I could not. If I get a bid, it is gone. I hope the buyer is Australian.

Theres a seven-day auction on eBay. I have set the starting price at AU$15m and the markets can then decide what they want to do with it. The sale covers five IT&C classes. The domain name is secure too. The buyer can then brand everything from hardware to IT training and events. It is comprehensive.

Breaking it up into individual classes, or even licensing are options. However, the whole package offers buyers greater advantage and synergies in the marketplace. There is some proprietary knowledge that goes with it. You do not need to be Eddie McGuire to figure out how the brand could be deployed across all facets of multimedia. Besides events and training, branded goods manufacture could be outsourced.

I would be the first to admit, that the brand image needs some tweaking, but the hard yards have been taken and now its up to the industry to consider the idea. Anyone could successfully utilise the recall potential of this brand. Mr. Morrison added.

Brainstorm offers the prospective new owner a powerful *meme. The trademark in these classes would be extremely valuable to the company that is able to develop the projects originally envisaged for the brand, or simply in marketing their own established products and services.

LINK: www.ebay.com.au Item number: 2547712902

*Meme: A unit of cultural information, such as a cultural practice or idea that is transmitted verbally or by repeated action from one mind to another.

See: http://www.ipaustralia.gov.au Trade Mark: # 729121
Goods & Services covered by this registration.

Class: 9 Computer hardware, computer software, parts and accessories therefore and documentation distributed therewith as a unit.

Class: 16 Printed materials relating to computer hardware and software; user's guides, forms, workbooks, training manuals, data sheets, documentation; media for recording computer programs

Class: 37 Installation, maintenance and repair of computers, computer hardware and computer peripheral equipment.

Class: 41 Education and instruction in the field of computers; organising, sponsoring and conducting meetings, conferences, lectures, workshops and seminars in the computer field.

Class: 42 Installation, maintenance and repair of computer software; programming; consultancy relating to computer software and computer hardware.

MEDIA RELEASE
Saturday, July 26, 2003.
            
Listing details      
Brainstorm®
Item name:          Intellectual Property: Trade Mark: # 729121
Item number:          2547712902
Listing format:       Auction
Main category:          Business, Office & Industrial: Other
Secondary category:       Computers & IT: Other
Quantity:          one (five relevant classes)
Start price:          AU $15,000,000.00
Listing duration:       7 days
Start date:          25-Jul-03 12:55:59 AEST
End date:          01-Aug-03 12:55:59 AEST

View item:
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2547712902&ssPageName=ADME:B:LC:AU:1

CONTACT: Darrell Morrison
Electric Brainstorm®
Mobile: 0418 527 253. Telephone (03) 55223014
E-mail: darrell@brainstorm.com.au