Trade Marks

Brands, names, identities, logos - they are all protected by trade mark laws.

Some protection in the UK is obtained simply by using your trade mark in business, and gaining a reputation and customer goodwill. However, your legal position is usually much stronger with a registered trade mark.

Registering your trade mark brings valuable protection against other traders who might confuse your customers or damage your goodwill. We regularly advise on complex trade mark issues, from look-alike products through to Internet use.

Trade mark registrations tend to overpower company names (which are recorded at Companies House) and internet domain names (which administered by NOMINET in the UK and equivalent overseas agencies).

We have a full range of searching and watching services. A search at the early stages of a project will help establish the current picture and help your business take a sensible approach to the risk of conflicts with other brand owners. We provide a diverse set of IP audits and inspections (due diligence), watches (brand maintenance), notifications (early warnings) and risk assessments (freedom-to-operate searches).

We offer commercial options to resolve trade mark disputes and make agreements that help different brands get along in the marketplace.

Why Appleyard Lees?

Appleyard Lees provide a full service to obtain and maintain your trade mark portfolio - from one trade mark to hundreds of brands. We are experts in registering your trade marks in the UK, in Europe and around the world. We offer strategic advice on what to file, where and when and then manage the whole process for you from start to finish. We are experts in all forms of complex trade mark matters - if you are stuck, then give us a call.

Trade Marks in Europe

All of the member countries of the European Union cooperate to run the Community Trade Mark Office (OHIM). A single filing at OHIM covers all of the EU and provides one trade mark registration with a single, streamlined procedure. Then, this single Community Trade Mark (CTM) is available for you in all of the EU countries - giving you freedom and flexibility and keeping costs to a minimum. As European Trade Mark Attorneys we are Professional Representatives for our clients in all procedures at OHIM, and we have extensive experience at all levels of prosecution, oppositions and appeals.

Trade Marks around the World

Each country runs their own legal system and the government controls the activities in that state - including trade mark rights. However, there is a high degree of co-operation especially in the early stages of trade mark filings and we will give you expert guidance on strategy, timing and costs to get registered in your key markets around the world. In the later stages, we have an excellent network of overseas associates, most of whom we have met personally and worked with for many years, and will manage the whole process including liaising with these local attorneys on your behalf.