We Got a 1 Star Review… You Won’t Believe Why
It’s not every day you get a one-star review for something you didn’t even do. But this is exactly what happened to us last week… It started with a ping in our inbox. “New review”: Cue instant chaos… Our WhatsApp group chat lit up with the everyone moving into full fact-finding mode (at 11pm on […]
When Ugg Isn’t Just a Brand and What the Famous Boot Taught Us About Trademarks and Geography
Say “Ugg” in the UK and you’ll picture the classic tan boots, trademarked, well marketed, and sold by the UGG brand. But say “ugg” in Australia or New Zealand, and you’ll likely get a different response. There, it’s not a brand, it’s a boot. A locally made sheepskin boot, to be exact. And that difference […]
Cadbury’s Purple Battle: When Colour Alone Is Not Enough
What do you think of when you think of Cadbury? Is it Purple? Cadbury’s has had some unforgettable adverts from the drumming gorilla to the “Eyebrow Dance” and may a heartfelt Christmas campaigns. It’s safe to say the brand has made its mark. But beyond the ads, one of Cadbury’s most enduring brand assets is […]
Trademarking Shapes? – Toblerone’s Triangular Triumph: How a Chocolate Shape Made Trademark History
Let’s be honest, when you think of Toblerone, you aren’t thinking about nougat, you probably are thinking about chocolate BUT you are definitely thinking of the shape first (I also think of duty free too)! Well that triangular peak is not just for show. It is one of the most recognisable chocolate designs in the […]
Why Nestlé Could Not Take a Break from Trouble When Trademarking the KitKat Shape
Nestlé wanted to protect the shape of KitKat’s, but the courts had other ideas. Even though millions do see the breakable bar with the KitKat brand, the company’s attempt to trademark its shape ended in failure. This is one of the most high-profile examples of a brand relying on acquired distinctiveness and losing. The Application […]
How Brexit and Backlogs Are Leaving One Small Business Owner £30,000 Out of Pocket in a Trademark Battle with L’Oréal
For many small business owners, a trademark is not just a box to tick. It is the foundation of everything they have worked to build. But for Rebecca Dowdeswell, founder of nkd in Leicester, protecting that foundation has come with a heavy price. More than thirty thousand pounds in legal fees and still no resolution […]
Trademark Battles in the Den: What Rebecca Sloan’s Legal Fight Can Teach You About Brand Protection
You might remember Rebecca Sloan from her standout pitch on Dragons’ Den. She introduced the world to Piddle Patch, a real grass, biodegradable dog toilet that impressed the Dragons and secured investment from Steven Bartlett. It was a moment that catapulted her eco-friendly pet product into homes and headlines across the UK. But away from […]
The Trademark Trouble Behind Dubai Chocolate and What It Means for Your Brand
You’ve probably seen it. That glossy, pistachio-filled chocolate bar from Dubai that has gone viral across TikTok and Instagram. Rich. Indulgent. Beautifully packaged. It looks like luxury and it tastes like it too. But behind the glossy surface is a legal story that most people haven’t heard. It is not about chocolate at all. It […]
Big News on the Big Mac, Amazon Advice, a WhatsApp Blunder and Bacardi’s Blow
Big news out of Europe. The courts have ruled that McDonald’s no longer has exclusive rights to the name Big Mac outside of beef burgers. That is right. The phrase that has been theirs for decades is now fair game in other food categories. Watch the breakdown in our latest YouTube Short, including what it […]
TM Direct Update: Trademark Direct Clients
Update – 5 May 2025 Trademark Direct have confirmed that their preferred email address for client correspondence is info@trademarkdirect.co.uk. They have also confirmed that their main telephone number, beginning 0208, is active and available on their website for clients wishing to make contact. We will continue to update this page with any further verified information that […]