What is a trademark?
A trademark is a symbol which can distinguish the goods and services of one trader from another: words, logos, pictures or a combination. Your trademark allows it to be used in relation to good and services and can oppose similar imitations or copies.
What cannot be registered as a trademark?
Words or logos which would not be considered as a distinguishing mark or a description of goods and services. Offensive, illegal, deceptive or protected symbols. Invented words are allowed.
Commercial identifiers
Trademarks are only one section within a class of IP assets called “commercial identifiers”:
- Company Identifiers: company name and logo;
- Product Identifiers: brand names (symbol, letter, design, icon), design marks e.g. Coca Cola’s famous ribbed bottle;
- Service Identifiers: service offered, shape and decoration of stores.
Commercial identifiers are the most overlooked IP assets by entrepreneurs – however, trademark protection is an important component of a company’s overall IP strategy, and is critical when considering the overall market status and presence of your business. This can be detrimental to the security of a business’s assets and can potentially lead to an undervaluing of the business when considering an exit strategy.
What are the timescales?
It takes roughly 3 months if the trademark has no objections
