Trade Marks
Trade mark registration enables an individual or a business to protect, against mis-use by others, the signs which distinguish their goods or services from those of other undertakings. Trade marks usually comprise words (including personal names), designs and logos, letters and numerals. However, the shape of a product or its packaging may constitute a trade mark. Even musical jingles and smells may constitute trade marks.
We offer a full and comprehensive range of trade mark services. In particular, we are able to conduct clearance searches for new trade marks in the UK and abroad and to give advice based on the results of those searches. We are able to handle the preparation, filing and prosecution of trade mark applications before the UK and the European Community Trade Mark Offices and also the International authorities. We are also able to handle matters involving third parties including opposition, cancellation and infringement proceedings. Through the offices of fellow practitioners abroad we are also able to assist clients in obtaining, exploiting and enforcing trade mark protection abroad.
Periodic trade mark audits are an essential part of maintaining adequate trade mark cover. We are able to assist with this from our records.
Having established one or more trade mark(s) it is important to police them effectively. An important aspect of this is maintaining a watch for the same or closely similar marks in the territories of importance. We are able to offer this service.
As with patent protection, a variety of routes exist for securing trade mark protection. These comprise national applications in the countries of interest and/or a Community trade mark application covering all of the European Union and/or an International trade mark application under the Madrid Protocol.
These different routes exhibit different formal requirements and advantages. A basic outline of the filing requirements for each route is as follows: