What is a Trade Mark?<\/h1><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>![](\"http:\/\/www.tidmanlegal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2017\/01\/reg-1.png\")
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<\/div><\/div><\/div>A trademark is a badge of origin. It may be a word, logo, strapline or even a colour, shape or sound.<\/p>\n<\/div>
<\/i><\/i><\/span>Why should I protect my brand through trade mark registration?<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>\nTrade marks are a valuable business asset. Your trade marks and brands are what differentiate your business from your competitors. Upon seeing your trade marks, consumers link them to your business. Hence, your trade mark is synonymous with your business\u2019 reputation, goodwill and image. If your business has spent a large amount of time and money in advertising and promoting its brand, you should secure a registered trade mark to protect your brand and investment.<\/p>\n
A registered trade mark provides your business with the exclusive right to use that mark for the goods and services for which it is registered. It also has the following benefits:<\/p>\n
\n- Registering a trade mark puts third parties on notice of your business\u2019s rights<\/li>\n
- Most countries operate a first to file system and registration of the trade mark acts as proof of those rights<\/li>\n
- Although rights in a unregistered brand can be accrued through use of the mark, such use must be significant and it is much more difficult and costly to enforce<\/li>\n
- Registering a trade mark is more likely to deter third parties from using your mark or something similar<\/li>\n
- A registered trade mark is an asset which can be sold or licensed and which can be listed in the balance sheet as a business asset<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/i><\/i><\/span>When should I apply for a trade mark?<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>\nAs soon as you know which trade mark your business wants to use. A trade mark does not already have to be in use to apply, although in certain jurisdictions you may need to proof use of the trade mark before it can be registered. In fact it is very important to have the interest in the trade mark registered as soon as possible to prevent a third party beating you to it.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/i><\/i><\/span>How long does the registration process take?<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>\nAs there are multiple procedures during any trade mark application, it is difficult to predict with any certainty the duration of the entire process through to registration. However, excluding any official objection or opposition from third parties, we would expect a UK trade mark application to be registered within 4 months whilst an EU trade mark application can take around 6 months.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/p>\n<\/div>
A trademark is a badge of origin. It may be a word, logo, strapline or even a colour, shape or sound.<\/p>\n<\/div>
<\/i><\/i><\/span>Why should I protect my brand through trade mark registration?<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>\nTrade marks are a valuable business asset. Your trade marks and brands are what differentiate your business from your competitors. Upon seeing your trade marks, consumers link them to your business. Hence, your trade mark is synonymous with your business\u2019 reputation, goodwill and image. If your business has spent a large amount of time and money in advertising and promoting its brand, you should secure a registered trade mark to protect your brand and investment.<\/p>\n
A registered trade mark provides your business with the exclusive right to use that mark for the goods and services for which it is registered. It also has the following benefits:<\/p>\n
\n- Registering a trade mark puts third parties on notice of your business\u2019s rights<\/li>\n
- Most countries operate a first to file system and registration of the trade mark acts as proof of those rights<\/li>\n
- Although rights in a unregistered brand can be accrued through use of the mark, such use must be significant and it is much more difficult and costly to enforce<\/li>\n
- Registering a trade mark is more likely to deter third parties from using your mark or something similar<\/li>\n
- A registered trade mark is an asset which can be sold or licensed and which can be listed in the balance sheet as a business asset<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/i><\/i><\/span>When should I apply for a trade mark?<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>\nAs soon as you know which trade mark your business wants to use. A trade mark does not already have to be in use to apply, although in certain jurisdictions you may need to proof use of the trade mark before it can be registered. In fact it is very important to have the interest in the trade mark registered as soon as possible to prevent a third party beating you to it.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/i><\/i><\/span>How long does the registration process take?<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>\nAs there are multiple procedures during any trade mark application, it is difficult to predict with any certainty the duration of the entire process through to registration. However, excluding any official objection or opposition from third parties, we would expect a UK trade mark application to be registered within 4 months whilst an EU trade mark application can take around 6 months.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
Trade marks are a valuable business asset. Your trade marks and brands are what differentiate your business from your competitors. Upon seeing your trade marks, consumers link them to your business. Hence, your trade mark is synonymous with your business\u2019 reputation, goodwill and image. If your business has spent a large amount of time and money in advertising and promoting its brand, you should secure a registered trade mark to protect your brand and investment.<\/p>\n
A registered trade mark provides your business with the exclusive right to use that mark for the goods and services for which it is registered. It also has the following benefits:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Registering a trade mark puts third parties on notice of your business\u2019s rights<\/li>\n
- Most countries operate a first to file system and registration of the trade mark acts as proof of those rights<\/li>\n
- Although rights in a unregistered brand can be accrued through use of the mark, such use must be significant and it is much more difficult and costly to enforce<\/li>\n
- Registering a trade mark is more likely to deter third parties from using your mark or something similar<\/li>\n
- A registered trade mark is an asset which can be sold or licensed and which can be listed in the balance sheet as a business asset<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/i><\/i><\/span>When should I apply for a trade mark?<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
\nAs soon as you know which trade mark your business wants to use. A trade mark does not already have to be in use to apply, although in certain jurisdictions you may need to proof use of the trade mark before it can be registered. In fact it is very important to have the interest in the trade mark registered as soon as possible to prevent a third party beating you to it.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/i><\/i><\/span>How long does the registration process take?<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
\nAs there are multiple procedures during any trade mark application, it is difficult to predict with any certainty the duration of the entire process through to registration. However, excluding any official objection or opposition from third parties, we would expect a UK trade mark application to be registered within 4 months whilst an EU trade mark application can take around 6 months.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>