

They ensure that consumers are never confused about who they are doing business with and that business owners do not face unfair competition from similar companies using the same or similar names or logos to theirs.
#DO I NEED TO TRADEMARK MY BUSINESS NAME AND PRODUCT NAME REGISTRATION#
However, it is a legal process, so hiring a private attorney who specializes in trademark law or going through a trademark registration company is highly recommended, but not required. Trademarking your business through the US Patent and Trade Office (USPTO) allows you to legally protect your business’s brand. The main purpose of a trademark is to prevent consumer confusion by ensuring two similar businesses do not operate under the same name or symbol. Registering a trade mark in the UK only protects your brand in the UK and the Isle of Man.A trademark is any word, slogan, symbol, design, or any combination of these that identifies the source of a business’s goods and services and distinguishes them from the goods and services of another party. If there are no issues, it usually takes around 3 to 4 months from application for your trade mark to be granted. You will have to resolve them before you can register your trade mark. If there are any issues the IPO will let you know. publish details of your application in the journal, in case anybody wants to oppose it.check that your trade mark is not the same as, or similar to, any existing trade marks.

You can send your application online or by post. You must send details of your trade mark and the goods or services you want to use your trade mark on to the Intellectual Property Office ( IPO). It will usually cost more depending on your circumstances, for example how many types of goods or services you want to protect your brand in.

Registering a trade mark costs at least £170. Watch a short video about trade marks (2 minutes). You may not be able to register your trade mark if it’s the same as, or similar to, a trade mark of another business that sells the same goods or services. make use of official emblems or hallmarks, for example coats of arms.make use of national flags you do not have permission to use.be just a generic shape associated with your business, for example if you sell apples you cannot trade mark the shape of an apple.be too common and non-distinctive, for example a statement like ‘we lead the way’.be misleading, for example use the word ‘organic’ for goods that are not organic.describe the goods or services it will relate to, for example the word ‘cotton’ cannot be a trade mark for a cotton textile company.be offensive, for example contain swear words or pornographic images.You must renew your trade mark every 10 years for it to stay in force. Before registering a trade mark, check it is the right type of protection for your intellectual property.Ī trade mark lasts 10 years.
