It pays to make sure that you protect yourself, your business, and your products and services with proper trademark registration. While there are minimal legal fees that can start at £150.00 +VAT, it is well worth the time and effort. A trademark helps you claim a legal standing in regards to your brand name and the protection you deserve. Essentially it gives you the right to legally claim a brand name and keep others from using it without your permission. Of course a trademark applied for in the UK only protects a business that has undergone UK trademark registration. The entire process can take anywhere from four to six months, with the protection dating back to the original date you filed for your trademark.
Be Sure to Ask Yourself if You Need a Trademark
A very important question you need to ask yourself is whether you need a trademark or not. If you own and operate your own business and have a keen desire to stay ahead in your market or industry, then it pays to have your services and products registered. Not only will your services and goods stand out from your competitors, trademarking also gives you a unique and one-of-a-kind identity. Another good reason to seek a trademark is simply because it gives you the legal standing you need to protect yourself from others who would infringe on your business. It keeps your competitors from luring your customers away by using branding that is confusingly similar to yours.
You Get Exclusive Trademark Rights
A trademark that is registered also gives you exclusive. This includes using the ® symbol in your trademark, logo and on all of your paperwork, designs, and online graphics. Essentially the ® symbol expresses that others may not legally use your logo, name or branding without facing legal actions. It is your registered trademark which means it stands apart from other trademarks that have not been registered yet. An unregistered trademark can still be used, but it is not advised since legal action can be much more expensive and you do not have the same protection. When you register your trademark you have more rights and it is much easier to handle legal actions against infringers.
