What is IP?
Are property rights that can be owned, assigned and licenced. They protect the owner from others infringing and using their IP.
There are three main areas of Intellectual Property:
Patents (novel inventions – often scientific or mechanical), Copyright, Design and Trade Marks.
Here at Bright Solicitors we can assist you with your Trade Mark needs.
Trade Marks
Colloquially known as a brand, logo, business name or trading name etc. They can include words, images or combination of both, sounds, smells and even shapes. It is important to note that registering your company name with Companies House does not provide you with trade mark protection. Unless you register your trade mark with the Intellectual Property Office you are not protected, other than through a process known as passing off. Passing off is difficult to prove and costly; therefore registering your trade mark with the IPO is preferable.
Benefits: As customers learn to associate your mark with your goods and services they may be happy to pay more for a product or service bearing that trade mark. The value of your trade mark grows with you as your business grows. It can also serve as a deterrent from competitors using your trade marks/ brand. You have property rights associated with your trade mark which enables you to sell, licence or otherwise. Trade marks are protected indefinitely upon renewal of your trade mark every 10 years.
