What an IP Audit Reveals 

The opening months of 2026 point to a revival in business confidence.

That’s because trademark applications rose in the first quarter of 2026 – something that generally serves as a leading indicator of business optimism. 

Filings are up across seve...

Feb 27, 2026

Trademark enforcement is essential to maintaining and strengthening a brand.

It’s necessary to challenge third parties who infringe or otherwise trespass on your rights. So, taking action against copycats or lookalikes is the way to ma...

Nov 27, 2025

The “use it or lose it” principle applies to trademarks in all countries.

The rationale behind the principle is to make names available for others to secure after five years of registration unless the owners of those registrations are ...

Oct 31, 2025

A trade mark (“TM”) is the single most important Intellectual Property asset of a business. So, it needs to be well looked after.

When you apply to register a UK TM the application is examined for registrability by the UKIPO Examiner. ...

Dec 5, 2024

“If this company were to split up, I would give you the property, plant and equipment and I would take the brands and the trademarks and I would fare better than you.”

So said John Stuart, CEO of Quaker Oats for over 30 years illustrati...

Nov 1, 2024

A trademark is a powerful asset for any brand. However, this valuable protection comes with responsibilities, so that if you don’t use the mark in the way required by the law, you stand to lose it.

This is the approach of the law becaus...

Sep 5, 2024

Should you register your trademark yourself?

I regularly meet businesses that have either registered their own trademark or who tell me they intend to do so.

While I tend not to comment individually the fact is, I’ve never come across ...

Apr 26, 2024

A start-up wonders why they’ve received a ‘cease and desist’ letter from Hugo Boss. Surely, they can't stop us using the word ‘boss’ they say?

Well yes they can. 

It may be an ordinary word but Hugo Boss used it first in the fashion b...

Mar 19, 2024

People often wonder why register a trademark.

They assume they automatically get the rights to use their name, so surely trademark registration is just a nicety that needn’t concern them till they're established?

It’s a cost people do...

Mar 6, 2024

Actions like trademarking a colour or piece of music are not for every type of business.

They’re difficult to achieve. You can’t just apply to register them like you do with a name or logo. Instead, you need to first become known throug...

Feb 23, 2024

Some people were concerned to learn from my article An Expensive Lesson in Trademark Law that trademark registrations can be cancelled. It made for a sense of insecurity because what if their own registrations rest on shaky foundations?...