Trademark Services:
Strategy:
A well thought through strategy is crucial in maximising the potential and value of your trade mark/design assets and helping to give your business a competitive edge in the marketplace.
An initial free strategy report, identifying potential trade mark and design elements for protection and assessing the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and risks of your portfolio
General advice and practical tips on optimising your trade mark and design rights.
Regular reviews of your portfolio to ensure that our strategy is aligned with the current position and future plans of your business, and also that the strategy evolves as your business grows and develops.
Registration:
We help clients obtain registered trade mark and design protection in the UK, Europe and other countries across the world. With our strategic and practical approach, we will make sure that your trade marks and designs are filed and registered in the most relevant and cost-effective way.
Preparing applications to make sure they meet the requirements of the relevant IP Office ("IPO")
Drafting specifications covering your goods and services of interest
Filing applications directly with the UKIPO.
Filing International applications via the Madrid system where appropriate (designating territories of interest if they are party to Madrid)
Filing national applications overseas - we work and collaborate with a network of trusted firms/colleagues and partners, to secure your registrations
Prosecuting applications through to registration before the UKIPO and EUIPO - updating you on each stage of the application process and helping to overcome Examiner/third party objections if they arise
Defending applications should any oppositions be filed by competitors/third parties
Informing you of registration as soon as possible and advising on post-registration maintenance of your rights
Maintenance and Portfolio Management:
A well-managed and reliably maintained portfolio, is crucial in ensuring that your trade mark and design rights are valid and ready for any opportunities that arise, such as licensing deals and raising investment. As your business develops and expands into new markets and/or new product and service areas, it is important that all of this information is accurately recorded and kept in an easily accessible (secure) format.
Maintaining comprehensive records of your portfolio (full case listings)
Making sure your portfolio is kept up-to-date, with pro-active, reliable and timely maintenance and reporting
Fee monitoring and reminder service (free of charge). For example, on any official fees due, to keep registrations in force
Reviewing your portfolio to make sure that relevant registrations are renewed at the appropriate time and handling renewals with IP offices
Advice and help with building a library of examples of use of your trade marks and designs, for evidence of reputation and for any potential proceedings (enforcement and defence)
Reporting on budgetary forecasts for your trade mark and design matters
Management and development of portfolios to maximise their commercial value and making sure your rights continue to match your business requirements and objectives
Watching and Monitoring:
Once you have your trade mark and/or design applications in place, it is important that you fully protect and enforce your trade mark and design rights, to maintain, preserve and strengthen your rights and business reputation. A pro-active intelligence-led approach, with early detection of potentially conflicting rights, is the best way to ensure that your trade mark and design assets work hard for your business and keep you ahead of your competition.
Trade Mark and Design Watches - words and/or images. Determine if other brand owners/third parties are filing applications identical or similar to your own. We advise on whether any action is recommended against an identified application e.g. through requesting withdrawal or filing an opposition.
Owner/Applicant Watch - determine which trade marks and designs your competitors are filing
Application/Registration Status Watch - notifying you of any changes to a competitor/third party application or registration
Company Watch - lets you know the status of a competitor/third party company
Web Watch - online monitoring of your own trade marks and designs is helpful in determining whether there are any infringements of your rights, and that any usage by third parties (where not infringing e.g. licensed use/consent to use) is in accordance with your brand/design guidelines
Domain names and E - Commerce:
The online marketplace/ ecommerce are crucial for any business, with domain names playing an essential role in directing customers to your website. Understanding the relationship between domain names and trade marks and the importance of obtaining trade mark protection for your domain names at an early stage, can help avoid any issues and disputes with third party Registrants and cybersquatters. In addition, the development of proactive online/ ecommerce monitoring strategies, will help you to effectively protect and police your brands online.
Strategic advice on selecting names for domain name registration and obtaining the appropriate trade mark protection
Domain name registration, maintenance and renewal through our external partners and service providers
Online monitoring of domain names to check usage and registration by third parties and to check for infringements of your trade mark rights
Advice and support on unauthorised domain name use and website content (where there are potential trade mark infringement/passing off issues)
Dispute management and resolution - corresponding with registrants and cybersquatters with the aim to reclaim/transfer back a domain name
Taking formal action against infringers and cybersquatters via a Dispute Resolution Procedure to reclaim a domain name.
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