Proof of Use: What Is It, Why Does It Matter Where Trademarks Are Concerned and can ‘the blockchain’ help?
Unlike domain names, where many people over the years have made a living from buying attractive domain names and then reselling them at a premium when somebody wants them, trademarks have quite specific rules in place behind them to avoid what we refer to in the industry as trademark squatting. So, when you begin a […]
The Most Expensive Trademark Application Is the One That Fails
People ask me all the time what it costs to register a trademark in the UK. It is a fair question, and I understand why everyone wants a single number to plan around. But the honest answer is that the price of the application is rarely the price that matters. The cheapest filing is almost […]
Can You Stop Somebody Bidding On Your Brand Name In Google Ads With A Trademark?
Ever searched your own business name on Google and found somebody else’s advert sitting above you? That is exactly what a competitor bidding on your brand name looks like. Most business owners assume that is just how Google Ads works, but it doesn’t have to be. What’s the story? It’s a common practice. You do […]
150 Years of UK Trademarks. What Actually Makes a Brand Last?
What do Rolls Royce, Cadbury, Marmite, Twinings and the BBC all have in common? Most people would probably say heritage. Reputation. Recognition. They would be right. But they also all understood something many businesses still miss today. Brand protection matters. This year marks 150 years of the UK trademark registry. That means businesses in the […]
Care of Address for Trademarks: It Is Not Just Mail Forwarding
When you file a trademark, your application details will become publicly available on official trademark registers. Depending on who is applying, this will include your first name and last name or business name, correspondence address, trademark number, filing date, classes and other key details connected to your application. For some trademark applicants and owners, this […]
It May Not be a Trademark that You Need!
When first meeting potential clients a common situation is whether what they need is a Trademark or a Patent. The two are similar in that they are both Intellectual Property (IP) but there are also other types of IP, such as Design’s and different types of trademarks that protect different things. When most businesses think […]
What is the Madrid Protocol, and does it work?
Thinking about international trademark registration? Learn the pros and cons of the Madrid Protocol and why local filing can offer better protection across global markets. This is one of those times when we can share our experiences with the hope of saving people money. If you are providing goods and services overseas, then you should […]
Why We’re Adding Business Finance, Corporate Restructuring and Tax Planning to Our Annual Reviews
At The Trademark Helpline, one of the hardest parts of working closely with businesses over many years is seeing good businesses run into difficulty. It is never nice to watch a client struggle. It is worse when that struggle leads to closure. For them, it can mean stress, uncertainty and years of hard work unravelling. […]
Business Finance. Is It All a Scam?
After more than 18 years in the Trademark business, I have seen one brutal truth play out again and again. Most businesses do not fail because the founder is lazy. They do not fail because the idea was rubbish. They do not even usually fail because there was no demand. They fail because cash flow […]
Who Manages Trademarks Within an Organisation?
Thanks to AI and cheap overseas manufacturing, it has never been easier for someone to attempt to replicate your service proposition or product. The most important and universal gauge of quality is your brand, which is why it is too important to leave to chance. Whether you are running a small owner managed business or […]