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