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Trade marks are often among a business’s most valuable assets. Our Manchester trade mark lawyers advise on registration and brand protection, as well as bringing and defending infringement claims and resolving trade mark disputes.
Our trade mark lawyers advise businesses on bringing and defending trade mark infringement claims. Whether another business is using your brand without permission or you have been accused of infringing someone else’s rights, we can advise on enforcement, defence strategies, settlement negotiations, injunctions and court proceedings.
Infringement and dispute services include:
Trade marks distinguish your goods and services from other businesses, and gives you the right to exclude third parties from using your brand without your permission.
Our trade mark lawyers advise businesses on UK and international trade mark registrations, helping protect your brand, product names, slogans, and logos.
We support businesses at every stage of the trade mark registration process, including:
Once registered, your trade mark will be protected for 10 years, and can be renewed indefinitely.
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There are various types of trade marks that can be registered, the most common being word marks or figurative/ logos.
Other trade marks can include shapes, colours, sounds and motion marks. A trade mark must be distinctive and not descriptive of the goods or services to which it will relate.
It cannot be offensive, misleading or make use of emblems or national flags that you do not have permission to use.
Once registered, a UK trade mark is protected for 10 years from the filing date. To keep your registration in force, it must be renewed by paying the relevant renewal fee. There is no limit to the number of times a trade mark can be renewed, meaning it can provide protection indefinitely, provided it continues to be renewed and used correctly.
Trade mark rights are territorial, protection extending only to the country or region in which the mark is registered.
As there is no single worldwide trade mark granting protection in every jurisdiction, businesses must register in each country where they want to have protection.
If you suspect someone is infringing your registered trade mark, gather evidence of the suspected infringement and seek legal advice before taking action.
A trade mark lawyer can assess whether infringement has occurred and advise on the most appropriate next steps, which may include correspondence with the other party, settlement negotiations, seeking an injunction or bringing a trade mark infringement claim.
If someone brings a claim against you for infringing their trade mark, If you have been accused of trade mark infringement, do not ignore the allegation or respond without first understanding your position.
Preserve relevant records and seek legal advice as soon as possible. A trade mark lawyer can assess the claim against you, advise on potential defences and help you determine the best way to respond or resolve the dispute.
Enforcing your trade mark rights and resolving disputes does not always have to involve court proceedings. Disputes can often be addressed through communication and negotiation strategies or administrative proceedings. Trade mark solicitors can advise on the options available and help determine the most appropriate approach.