Helping your client to protect their trade mark overseas
By Sarah Chatterley.
Your client may already know a little about trade mark protection if they have registered their trade mark in their home territory, but if they are thinking of expanding by promoting and selling their goods or services to new territories, either directly, on-line or via agents or licensees they should consider registering the trade mark in those particular countries (and also in countries to which they are planning to export in future). Here is some information about filing applications for UK or Community Trade Mark registrations.
Clearing and registering a new mark
By Sarah Chatterley.
We always recommend to our clients that they conduct a thorough investigation before adopting a new mark. In an ideal world this would be when they are thinking of a new brand, but often we are asked to check marks out just before the products are launched! There are good reasons for making a trade mark search one of the first things you do when looking for a new brand.
Are you heading in the right direction? Trade mark searching
Newspaper headlines are often highlighting the importance of checking whether a name or brand is free to use before it is launched in a chosen market. For example, the boy band One Direction faced a dispute the USA over the use of their name.
Protecting your goods and services as your business grows
As businesses grow, the range of products or services commercially marketed may expand beyond the goods and services originally listed in trade mark registrations obtained to protect those goods and services. Additionally, as plans are made to enter into new commercial markets in new territories, existing trade mark registrations may not serve to protect your business. Does your company review its trade mark rights to ensure that your business' current portfolio of products and services is actually protected?
Dont fall foul of the groundless threats provisions
By John Rule.
If you find that someone is copying your invention or brand, it is usually a great temptation to throw the legal book at them. However the law attempts to protect businesses from vexacious law suits and damaging threats by providing protection for companies that are unjustifiably threatened with legal action.