Should You Trademark a Brand That Started on Social Media?
Should you trademark a brand that started on social media? Why a handle is not a trademark, the marketing risk of an unowned name, and practical steps to take.
Can a Brand Name Become Too Generic to Protect?
A generic trademark can be revoked in the UK. How brands like Escalator and Aspirin became everyday words, and how to stop the same happening to your name.
Can a Bigger Brand Force You to Change Your Business Name?
Can a bigger brand force you to change your business name? What Patagonia and TickTickTrader v TikTok show about who wins, and what to do if a letter lands.
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 […]
Can a Big Brand Oppose Your Trademark in a Different Industry?
Can a big brand oppose your trademark in a different industry? How similar goods and the reputation ground work, and what Crazy Rich Flavours shows.
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 […]
What Can You Do If the IPO Objects to Your Trademark?
Had a trademark objection from the IPO? What it means, your two-month deadline, the options for responding and what happens at an ex parte hearing.
Can You Sell Upcycled Branded Goods Without Infringing a Trademark?
Can you sell upcycled branded goods without infringing a trademark? How UK exhaustion of rights works, the Chanel, Rolex and Hermès cases, and checks to make.
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 […]
