Blog Archive
- Posted by Jane Coyle on April 29, 2016 / Posted in Trade MarksWhether you are a newly established business, or a company with a built up brand, you may be wondering if it is worth investing in a trade mark.Whether you are a newly established business, or a company with a built up brand, you may be wondering if it is worth investing in a trade mark. The answer is clear. Of course! While registering a trade mark may seem an unnecessary expense, it in fact can give you a multitude of benefits. Not only will it allow you to prevent anyone using your company name or logo which could affect your relationship with your consumers, you can also build a reputation that any future customers can [...]Read more
- Posted by Jane Coyle on April 27, 2016 / Posted in Trade MarksFollowing major changes to the European Union trade mark system at the end of March, some brand owners may find their level of protection reduced.Following major changes to the European Union trade mark system at the end of March, some brand owners may find their level of protection reduced. Previously it was allowed and the general practise that a mark would be registered and attached to a class of goods or services in relation to the class heading. Each class had a summary as to what was included that may differ from the identification label of each mark. For example, Class 12 which was in relation to vehicles also included [...]Read more
- Posted by Jane Coyle on April 26, 2016 / Posted in Trade MarksShould I register my trademark or brand name in the EU or UK?Should I register my trademark or brand name in the EU or UK? If you are trading solely in the UK and have no plans to expand then it makes sense to file your trademark in the UK only! A UK Trademark is cheaper and takes less time than in the EU. The UKIPO will charge you £170 for one class and £50 each class above one. If you choose the Trademarkroom to act as your trademark agent we will charge you £200+VAT. This is a fixed fee for any number of classes and you will get [...]Read more
- Posted by Jane Coyle on April 25, 2016 / Posted in Trade MarksCan I register my surname as a trademark?Can I register my surname as a trademark? Under US trade mark law, a trade mark that is used mainly as a surname cannot be registered without proof that the mark has acquired distinctiveness through use. In the EU filing surnames as trademarks can be registered relatively simply under the EUTM process. Under the EUIPO (formerly OHIM) guidelines, surnames are generally considered distinctive. This was confirmed by the European Court of Justice in 2002 in Case C-404/02 Nichols which stated, [...]Read more
- Posted by Jane Coyle on April 22, 2016 / Posted in Trade MarksWith the food and drink industry being one of the biggest in the UK, it is important you can stand out from the crowd and be the ‘go-to’ product for your customers.With the food and drink industry being one of the biggest in the UK, it is important you can stand out from the crowd and be the ‘go-to’ product for your customers. The best way to do this is to make your products noticeable. To do this, you need to register a trade mark. There are a number of varieties of trade marks you can pursue to ensure you have the best protection. Many businesses have only registered a word only trade mark, however with specific focus on your [...]Read more
- Posted by Jane Coyle on April 19, 2016 / Posted in Trade MarksWhile trade mark registration is important for all businesses, it is especially crucial that as a Small to Medium Enterprise, you are aware of the potential power it could have to your success.While trade mark registration is important for all businesses, it is especially crucial that as a Small to Medium Enterprise, you are aware of the potential power it could have to your success. A trade mark in its simplest form, is a word, phrase or logo that can indicate to potential customers the origin of your goods or services. The key to a success mark is distinctiveness and this is needed for a mark to be registered. They are also a way for you to create a niche in your industry [...]Read more
- Posted by Jane Coyle on April 19, 2016 / Posted in Trade MarksFor many businesses, the registration of a trade mark has only brought them a large amount of success and attraction power. However, the question you may be asking is if it will work for you.For many businesses, the registration of a trade mark has only brought them a large amount of success and attraction power. However, the question you may be asking is if it will work for you. The answer is most certainly, yes! It is first essential though that you understand what a trade mark is and exactly how important it is for you to register it. A trade mark effectively is the badge of honour you attach to your business to indicate to customers where your goods or services have [...]Read more
- Posted by Jane Coyle on April 16, 2016 / Posted in Trade MarksWhen you apply to register a trade mark, you must affix it to a class of goods or services. This indicates which area or industry you want to gain protection in.When you apply to register a trade mark, you must affix it to a class of goods or services. This indicates which area or industry you want to gain protection in. It is extremely important that you choose the right classes as it could lead to a limitation of protection if you were to diversify slightly or expand the business. If you are not protected in the right classes, you can open yourself to potential infringement that you cannot prevent Classes 1-34 are solely in relation to goods. [...]Read more
- Posted by Jane Coyle on April 16, 2016 / Posted in Trade MarksA reminder to be aware of fake invoices pretending to be from the UK Intellectual Property Office.There have been a number of announcements from the UK Intellectual Property Office in the recent months, warning of fake invoices that could be very costly. This warning still applies to the future. You need to be aware that not all correspondence you receive that appears to be legitimate is in fact that. A number of fake invoices have been received by trade mark owners claiming to be form the UK IPO stating that their trade mark is up for renewal and a substantial higher than normal [...]Read more
- Posted by Jane Coyle on April 14, 2016 / Posted in Trade MarksHow do I trademark my brand, logo or company name. If you have a brand you should protect it with a trademark and the Trademarkroom can do this for youIf you have a brand name or logo then you should seriouly think about protecting it with a registered trademark. By appying for a trademark in the country where you are trading, if successful you will legally own your brand name or logo (or both) which is a great assest for any individual or business. If you are trading in the UK only then you can apply for a UK Registered Trademark. You can do this through the UKIPO. The basic fee is£170 nil vat. If you go through an expert [...]Read more