Here are 5 easy steps to get you started.

1 – Choosing your Trade Mark

What sort of trade mark do you want to register? Make sure it is not misleading or just a description of what you do.

2 - The legal bits

1994 Trade Marks Act applies:

“a trade mark is any sign capable of being represented graphically which is capable of distinguishing goods or services of one undertaking from those of other undertakings”.

In plain English it means a mark in writing or a drawing which is unique.

3 – Have you got class?

Which classes of goods or services do you wish to register your trade mark for?  There are 45 to choose from: 1-34 cover goods and 35-45 cover services.

4 – Searches

With Trademark Hound you get a free UK trademark search, which will check that no one has a similar trade mark for your goods and services in the UK. We also offer searches for similar unregistered marks and businesses and the European Community Trade Mark Registers in our full service search. This establishes if somebody else has registered or applied to register the same or similar trade mark you want.

5 – Filing

Once accepted as your trade mark will be published in the Trade Marks Journal.  After that we wait during the three-month period during which oppositions may be filed, sometimes on the grounds of a prior conflicting right, or on the grounds that the mark is descriptive.  If there are no oppositions, your trade mark is formally registered and your business receives a certificate to this effect.  Your registration is for ten years.

With Trademark Hound Fast you get the option on turning your application around in one week or same day service, you can choose a complex indepth search or a free search to show the main areas of concern. You can obtain help from us using our DIY help service or we can handle the whole process for you and communicate on your behalf with the IPO.

Phone  01244 300413

Email  Trademarks@lawhound.co.uk