Written by Thomas Staveley

Copyright and AI

In an attempt to better handle the emergence of artificial intelligence and the impact this is having on copyright and content creators, in December 2024, the government published proposals to…

What if I find a non-UK domain name using my trade mark?

Domain name disputes have become increasingly common in the digital age, where a domain name can be a valuable asset for businesses and individuals alike. These disputes often arise when…

Can I trade mark the shape of my product?

It is possible to protect the shape of a product as a trade mark, however there are specific requirements and limitations to consider. The shape must be distinctive and not…

I have no written contract – what happens with termination?

A legally binding contract can be verbally agreed with no expressed agreement in place.  However, the termination of a verbal contract can present unique challenges and requires careful consideration of…

Importance of Written Agreements

The importance of having any written agreements signed by both parties cannot be overlooked, especially in the creative industries, where it is common for parties to engage in discussions without…

The Importance of a Trade Mark Clearance Search

The importance of brand protection should never be overlooked.  You create a new brand, spending copious amounts of time and money in registering the company, acquiring the relevant domains, creating…

Design Rights in Articles of Clothing

Clothing designs can be protected by both registered and unregistered design rights (as well as copyright).  A registered design right can protect the appearance of the whole or part of…

What is the Berne Convention?

The Berne Convention is a treaty enacted in 1886 so to provide better protections for artists of literary and artistic works throughout the world. It is based on three basic…

Trade Mark Opposition – TM7A and Beyond

Once you have filed your trade mark application, and it has been examined and published by the examiner at the UKIPO, it will be published in the trade marks journal…

Intellectual Property Rights – Greeting Card Industry

Nowadays, greeting cards is a saturated market, however this does not mean that you do not have any rights in the cards you design.  It is reported that 76% of…

What does a trademark protect?

As specialist IP lawyers we get asked two main questions in terms a trademarks: 1. What is a trademark? 2. What does a trademark protect? A trade mark is a…

Importance of Registering your Designs

  When undertaking an intellectual property audit of their business, designers often overlook registered designs. However, having your products protected by registered designs has multiple advantages. UK registered design protects…

Ownership of Intellectual Property Rights

Intellectual property rights can be valuable assets for companies, so it is very important to understand who owns what. The general starting point is that the owner of intellectual property…

Confidential Information and Intellectual Property

Protecting confidential information and intellectual property requires additional measures beyond general data security practices.  There are several steps that can be taken to help safeguard your confidential information and intellectual…

UK Registered Design Protection and Process

To obtain registered design protection in the United Kingdom, you can follow the process administered by the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO). Here are the necessary steps involved: Application preparation:…

Can you verbally assign intellectual property rights?

No, verbal assignments of intellectual property rights are generally not considered valid or enforceable. In most jurisdictions, including the United Kingdom, intellectual property rights are legally recognised and protected under…

My Dissolved Company Owns My Trade Mark, What Can I Do?

A limited company is a separate legal entity and therefore can be the proprietor of a intellectual property rights, meaning it can license it to third parties, assign it to…

BREAKING NEWS: This Just Leeked

It has been a difficult leek for Wales, losing to Iran last week and to its English neighbours, which has seen them knocked out of their first World Cup in…

How to Copyright a Drawing or Sketch?

Copyright is an intellectual property right which arises automatically once you have created your work. There is a wide range of works which attract copyright protection, however we will be…

The Hendrix Experience

Jimi Hendrix was an American musician, singer, songwriter and considered a legend as one of the most influential electric guitarists in the history of contemporary music (even though his career…

Can You Register An Expired Trade Mark?

A registered trade mark gives the proprietor a monopoly right to use the mark and to stop third parties from using or registering identical or similar marks in identical or…

I have found a new registered company with the same name as me, what can I do?

Introduction  Companies House is a public register which is freely accessible for anyone to search.  If one day you find that a new company has registered itself as the same…

Artificial Intelligence and IP Law

This article will discuss artificial intelligence (AI) and how it intertwines with intellectual property law, and the difficulties AI presents for IP law as it becomes more autonomous. We’ll consider…

Should I Trade Mark My Business Name?

One of the most common questions we receive from startups, and even established SMEs, is: “Should I trade mark my business name?”. A trade mark is a vital, valuable commercial…