Intellectual property
Have you packed a favourite book for your travels? Do you like to go for a run with your favourite song playing from your smartphone? Do you wear a watch or prefer a particular clothing brand? We rarely realise that the things and services we use every day involve some form of intellectual property, usually protected by law and by international standards.
Intellectual property covers products and services that result from human creativity, ingenuity and intellect. There are 2 kinds of intellectual property: industrial property (inventions and their patents, trademarks, designs or industrial models, and geographical indications) and copyright and related rights (literary and artistic works, whether written, performed or recorded).
Trademark
One of the most effective ways to protect a product or service today is a trademark. Essentially, it is a distinctive sign that lets customers recognise certain products and services as coming from a particular producer and clearly sets them apart from competitors’ goods. This helps not only to build a brand’s reputation and value, but also to protect the goods or services against misuse. By registering a trademark, its owner secures an exclusive right, protected by law and international conventions, to use it to label products or services, and may also authorise others to use it – normally for 10 years at a time (a period that can, of course, be renewed again and again). A trademark can consist of any sign capable of graphic representation, and you can recognise it by the familiar ® symbol.
Benefits of a trademark
Building a brand name, choosing a marketing strategy, creating a brand image or product style – these are all tools for raising brand awareness among your target customers. A brand that customers associate positively with certain goods or services needs the backing of a trademark, which is why every forward-thinking entrepreneur makes trademark protection part of their business plan. A registered trademark protects its owner against misleading advertising, piracy, illegal copying, unauthorised distribution and plagiarism. This not only secures the owner’s rightful reward but also prevents damage to the reputation of the product or service, most often caused by poor-quality imitations.
Take a closer look at your watch today and you may notice it is a bundle of intellectual property – from patents on the digital display and the clasp to the design of the dial and strap. You will also quickly find the maker’s trademark: as one of the most effective marketing tools for standing out, it is usually displayed prominently on the dial itself.
If you would like more information, don’t hesitate to contact our team of specialists, who are ready to help and advise you on choosing and registering your trademark. Visit us at https://trademark.co.uk/contact/
