What is a Trade Mark?
A trade mark is a unique sign, often referred to as a ‘brand’, which helps customers identify your products or services from those of others. Trade marks can take different forms, such as words, logos or a combination of these forms, as well as less conventional forms, such as colours, sounds and multimedia trade marks.
In a crowded marketplace, a strong and distinctive brand can confer a competitive edge over competitors as customers will recognise your trade mark and brand assets as indicating the commercial origin of your products or services.
Registered trade marks are monopoly rights which means that only the right holder has the exclusive right to use their brand at the exclusion of others. Legal action can be taken against anyone who uses your trade mark without authorisation and infringes the registered rights.
Over time, as your business and reputation grow, trade marks can become one of the most valuable assets of a business. It is never too early (or late) to protect your valuable brand assets.
Our Trade Mark Services
We can help with protecting and enforcing your brand in the UK and throughout the world. We offer a wide range of services relating to trade marks including:
- Trade mark searching and pre-filing advice
- Filing and registration of trade marks
- Trade mark opposition and cancellation actions
- Trade mark infringement and passing off
- Domain name disputes
- Company Name Tribunal actions
- Management of trade mark portfolios
- Preparation of assignments and licences
- Recordals
- Trade mark renewals