trade marks

The function of a trade mark, broadly defined, is to distinguish a business and its goods or services from that of its competitors. It allows consumers to identify a particular product or service without risk of confusion.

Accordingly, a trade mark can offer substantial value to a business if protected via registration, and the successful registration of a trade mark will confer exclusive rights upon its owner for the goods and services and territory for which the mark is registered.  

Whilst it is possible to protect an unregistered trade mark through, for example, the law of passing off, registration will offer far greater certainty and effectiveness.

Trade mark registration should be a primary consideration for any business that values its image. In doing so, you can prevent others from exploiting your brand identity.

what is capable of registration?

The range of insignia that are capable of registration is surprisingly extensive. Typically, words, images, letters and numbers (or a combination thereof) are per se registrable. But it is also possible to register, for example, names, shapes, colours, scents and sounds.

registration / brand protection

palmer biggs legal offers specialist advice and services to clients on issues of filing and registration, commercial exploitation, infringement of a trade mark including online infringement, domain names and in relation to passing off.

Our legal fee for filing trade mark applications starts at £245. You can register for just the UK, the whole EU or internationally beyond, subject to conflicts with marks owned by others.

download: trade mark filing fee schedule

company names - watching service

Also, with effect from 1 October 2008 trademark owners can raise objection to possible conflicting newly registered company names. Our UK Company Name Watching service monitors new incorporations and changes of company names on the Companies House Register, covering the entire United Kingdom.

If you require further information please contact us

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"...known to me to be one of the South East’s leading IP firms – in particular for their strong experience in rights protection and litigation in the music industry.... pb legal’s founding director helped me fight off a High Court injunction application relating to my use of the BUCKS FIZZ trade mark, several years ago whilst at his previous firm. My High Court success achieved massive media coverage at the time, including in the BBC’s documentary ‘Trouble at the Top’
David Van Day (Dollar)

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Tim Backshall, MD