Is a series mark for you?

While many businesses start by registering one trade mark, what many people do not know is that you can create a series of trade marks that can give you a higher level of power and protection.

If you have built your brand with a number of elements, you may want to consider filing a series trade mark application to ensure your complete brand is protected rather than just the main logo. 

Through the UK Intellectual Property Office, there is the option to file up to six marks in one application for a reduced fee. 

The key to a successful series application is the need for the marks to only have minor differences. If the mark are significantly different, they must be filed as seperate applications. 

Minor differences include a change in colour, capitalised and non-capitalised wording, plurals and different spacing. 

In respect of costs, our legal fee of £200 plus VAT still stands for a series application, even though you are protecting more than one brand.

In respect of the UK Intellectual Property Office official filing fees, the fee is £170 for a series of two marks then an additional £50 fee for each subsequent mark you wish to add (up to a maximum of 6). Don't forget that the additional class fees are also payable if you are looking to file your series mark in more than one class of goods and services.

For more information on whether a series application is right for you, please contact the Trademarkroom team today. 

By Ellis Sweetenham