Author: Rachael
Why Has Your DIY Trade Mark Application Got Stuck?
You had a trade mark to register for your business. After doing a Google search, you decided the application processes looked pretty straightforward. Therefore, due to all your other start-up costs, you chose to go down the DIY route. Encouraged by all the advice you read online you didn’t worry about reading up on all […]
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What Is A Series of Trade Marks?
You already know how important it is to protect your brand by registering your trade mark, but do you know how a series of trade marks works? When developing your brand, it’s entirely possible that you’ll play with different colourways, character cases, and include descriptions of the product. Under specific circumstances, you could get trade […]
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How McDonald’s Lost Out In The Battle Of The Burgers
Trade mark revocation is something we’ve covered in detail in the past. However, a recent high profile case makes it worthwhile revisiting this topic area. There is a burger war happening. The Ireland-based fast-food chain, Supermac’s, filed a trade mark revocation against McDonald’s Big Mac with the EUIPO. It states that the mark had not […]
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Does Your Trade Mark Pass The ACID Test?
You already know the importance of registering your trade mark, but what about way you use it? Improper use can lead to the dilution of your brand – and you don’t want that happen. To help businesses ensure their trade marks remain strong and valid, there is an easy-to-remember guide tha will help you make […]
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What Is The UK Fast Track Opposition Procedure?
The UK Intellectual Property Office (UK IPO) first introduced the UK Fast Track Opposition Procedure in 2013. Its inception was as direct result of the concerns that the cost and administrative burden of submitting an opposition to trade mark registration was leaving many SMEs open to brand dilution. This new “fast track” procedure is designed […]
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Choosing The Right Trade Mark Classes – Don’t Be A Trade Mark Troll
Picking the right trade mark class or classes for your product or service is critical. Get it wrong, and you will compromise the integrity of your most valuable asset. However, that doesn’t mean you should register it in umpteen classes ‘just to be on the safe side.’ Avoid becoming a Trade Mark Troll To ‘troll’ […]
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Professional Trade Mark Advice Is Worth Its Weight In Gold
Last month, we looked at what could potentially happen to your brand if you went down the DIY trade mark route. One error could lead to extra costs, time delays in achieving your trade mark registration, and even catastrophic damage to your brand.
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What is Trade Mark Revocation?
Registering your trade mark protects your business’s intellectual property. It stops other companies from using a similar mark without your permission. However, if you don’t use your registered trade mark within five years, it could be revoked. Use your trade mark or risk losing it Trade marks are commercial assets. Demand for certain marks can […]
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How Much Is Your Brand’s Reputation Worth?
When we talk about your brand reputation, we’re referring to your intellectual property, specifically its value. That’s why ‘how much is your brand’s reputation worth?’ is a question worth asking. Hopefully, it makes you stop and think about what you could lose if something when wrong. You might think your brand is untouchable; it’s your […]
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What Is The Company Names Tribunal?
The Company Names Tribunal (CNT) deals with: “Complaints about cases where a company name is registered for the primary purpose of preventing someone else with legitimate interest from registering it or demanding payment from them to release it.” (Source: gov.uk) Established on 1 October 2008, brand owners can now protect their trade marks from the registration […]
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