PROTECTING YOUR BRAND

Trade Marks

Protect Your Brand With a Trade Mark

Registering a trade mark is a way of protecting the elements of your brand that make it unique or innovative. Think of the things that customers use to identify the source of goods and services. You can trade mark names, logos, taglines and even sounds, a colour or a shape.

Registering a trade mark means that a third-party can’t copy what differentiates you from your competitors.

UK, EU & International Trade Marks

UK Trade Marks

Is UK trade mark registration right for you? If your business only operates in the UK and you don’t plan to expand outside of this, UK trade mark registration is the quickest and cheapest way to ensure legal exclusivity for the use of your brand

Get a UK trade mark

EU Trade Marks

If your business operates, or plans to do so, across multiple EU countries, an EU trade mark is ideal. It provides comprehensive coverage across all EU member states, ensuring legal exclusivity and simplified brand management within the European market.

Get an EU trade mark

Global Trade Marks

There is no single worldwide trade mark registration process, but if you have global business ambitions, our highly experienced team can help you ensure your brand is protected in every market you operate.

Get a Global trade mark

Benefits of registering a trade mark?

Gives you the tools to prevent others from financially benefiting from copying or imitating what you are known for
Having exclusive rights to your mark in the industry and jurisdictions registered
Prevents someone else registering your brand and forcing you to rebrand
Aids you becoming more attractive to investors as you are a safe bet
Allows international protection – expansion

Increasing Value

Whether you are looking to raise investment or working towards an exit strategy, having your intellectual property correctly registered can considerably increase the value of your business. Providing reassurance and security for investors or buyers.

Reducing Risk

Secure exclusive rights to use all the elements and identifiable aspect of your brand or business. Ensure no one else can financially benefit from copying or imitating what you are known for and uphold the good will and reputation you work hard to build.

Credibility

Registering your intellectual property enhances the prestige and presence of your business. Meaning prospects and clients consider your brand as well established, dedicated and with a reputation worth protecting.

Trade mark services include:

Clearance searches to assess whether a proposed trade mark is available for use and registration in the countries required.
Strategic planning and management of trade mark portfolios, including portfolio audits and licensing and assignment agreements.
Filing trade and design mark applications in the UK, Europe and internationally. We have close relationships with trade mark attorneys throughout the world, through whom we are able to manage international trade mark portfolios.

Conducting opposition, revocation or invalidation proceedings before the UK Intellectual Property Office (UK IPO) or the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EU IPO), either in defence of a client’s trade mark or on behalf of a client in a proactive measure against a competitor’s trade mark. Filing Cease and Desist letters, drafting co-existence or licensing agreements.
Renewal applications and fees.
Monitoring We can 'watch' your marks to ensure competitors aren’t attempting to register marks that would be confusingly similar to your own and raise the necessary opposition in a timely manner.

Why Trade Mark?

Trademarking your brand also sets you apart from your competitors and helps you stand out in a crowded market. When you have a registered trademark, it shows customers and potential partners that you are a credible and legitimate business. It also gives you the legal right to take action against anyone who uses your brand without your permission. In addition to protecting your brand, trademarking your brand can also increase its value. Potential buyers will be more likely to invest in a business that has a protected brand, as they know they are getting a unique and established product or service.

The Process

A trade mark is only protected in the countries where the application has been filed and accepted.

For this reason, we strongly recommend registering your trade mark in the countries where you currently trade, or where you hope to sell your products and services in the future.

If you have a product based brand, it is also important to trade mark in the country where your products are manufactured.

What our clients have said

I have been using National Business Registrar for over 10 years now and I’m very happy With their services. They have got an excellent team and are very efficient in their work.

We have placed our trust in NBR for nearly three decades and will continue to do so! Our trademark is our most valued asset, and Start.Biz (National Business Register) protects our business by taking care of all our trademark registration needs.

We've been associated with Mitch and his team for many years and have always been happy with the quality of service provided especially in relation to protecting our trademarks.

I contacted Mitch Willmott at Start.biz recently with a trademark query and to gain some general advice about IP and what I need as a start up business. He honestly could not have been more helpful.

The advice and guidance provided is first class and we would not hesitate in recommending to any business seeking advice or guidance relating to Intellectual Property.