A logo tends to be a very important part of most brands as it is the design element that is often seen as the ‘face’ of the brand and is therefore most closely associated with the brand in the eyes of the public. Consequently, it is important to ensure that nobody else can ‘piggyback’ off of your…
How do I Enable Others to Use my Brand?
It is possible to enable other people and/or organisations to use you brand but you must have a very sound business reason for doing so. The saying “act in haste, repent at your leisure” is very true in this case so if you are considering allowing others to use your brand, proceed with caution. The following are some…
Should I Register my Brand Name as a Trade Mark?
Firstly many people confuse registering a company name with companies house with a registered trade mark – they are two entirely different things. There are no restrictions on registering a company name other than you can’t have two companies with identical names. For example if you had a company name registered as “ABC Designs” then there is nothing stopping…
Why is Copyright Important to Branding?
Copyright is the exclusive right to make copies, license, and otherwise exploit a literary, musical, or artistic work, whether printed, audio, video, etc. It is intrinsic in the UK (no need to apply for it) and copyright works are protected for 50 years after the death of the author. Copyright,or rather the ownership of copyright, is a potentially critical…
What Types of Trade Mark are Available in the UK?
There are basically two types of trade mark in the UK – Registered Trade Marks and Unregistered Trade Marks. While the two are similar in the sense that they both seek to protect the trading names, styles and other elements that distinguish one business from its competitors. There are, however, many differences: Registered Trade Marks: Operate…
What is a Trade Mark?
A trade mark is anything distinguishes the goods and/or services on one business from those of their competitors. In other words, a trade mark identifies a particular business or organisation as the source of goods or services. A trademark will typically take the form of a name, word, phrase, logo, symbol, design, image, or a combination of these…
How do I Protect my Brand with Trade Marks?
A professionally created and properly implemented brand is a very valuable asset to your business and like any business asset, it should be protected. This article discusses how trade marks can be used to protect your brand(s). A trade mark is a very common way to protect the visual elements of your brand, including your logo, brand name and…