Trademarks

Paws

How can you tell if something's been trademarked?

As I understand it I have to apply to the IPO to see if my business name has already been registered as a Trademark and pay a fee.

I'm wondering if there's a way I can search to see if certain names have already been trademarked without paying fees each time?

TIA

Colin2511

hi, we have just started (last week) the process of registering our company name and logo, (as some muppet from Hong Kong started trying to buy all domains we did not own and threatening us)

you can search for free on-line or in person at a couple of offices,
My search online showed no-one had registered our name, but I dont know how accurate that is until I get the report back from them in a few days time (as we have paid to start the ball rolling)
http://www.ipo.gov.uk/types/tm/t-applying/t-before.htm

hope it helps

Paws

Thanks that's really useful! :beer:

How much is it costing, about a hundred quid?

ukbill69

I was thinking of doing our name, but thing is I can see 2 other shops and 1 domain name is using the name and used them before I started my company, would this give me the right to ask them to remove the name from them using it.

olly300

ukbill69 wrote: »

I was thinking of doing our name, but thing is I can see 2 other shops and 1 domain name is using the name and used them before I started my company, would this give me the right to ask them to remove the name from them using it.

Nope.

Unless you have as much financial clout as MacDonalds' and bully people with the threat of court costs into getting them to give the name up. Even then don't be surprised if someone fights back and wins.

I would choose another name or a variation of the name that is distinctly different. Someone on one of the boards has been getting hassle for years for due to sharing a similar name to a now insolvent business.

Colin2511

Paws wrote: »

Thanks that's really useful! :beer:

How much is it costing, about a hundred quid?

it cost £170 (its £200 with a £30 discount for doing it online), this give you one class...that was the hardest bit, as if I typed things connected to my business I could have plumped for several other catagories, and after the first one including in your £170 every other class is £50 per class

Paws

Colin2511 wrote: »

it cost £170 (its £200 with a £30 discount for doing it online), this give you one class...that was the hardest bit, as if I typed things connected to my business I could have plumped for several other catagories, and after the first one including in your £170 every other class is £50 per class

'class' what is that if you don't explaining?

Will have to go and have another look on the trademark site I think

I know someone who trademarked a name that people had been using for years and years, she stopped the original people using it.