Getting a trademark is an exciting step in your business. Trademarks help protect your brand identity, as well as giving your business a professional upgrade.
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When I started The Confident CEO range, it was important for me to protect the brand as much as possible. Just a few weeks before my journals were set to be delivered, I’d seen a post online about a small business owner who had purchased $10,000 worth of stock, none of which she could sell. Why? Because she’s accidentally infringed on someone else’s trademark by printing their trademarked tagline on the front of her product.
And there was nothing that she could do about it. At least, nothing that wasn’t going to cost her potentially millions of dollars in acquiring the trademarked tagline. Instead, she just had to cut her losses with her $10,000 investment and start again.
This got me thinking that I didn’t want to end up in this situation. Because it happens more regularly than you might think. Just 1 week before my trademark came through, I saw another business owner on TikTok talking about how they’d had to pull a product because of an accidental trademark infringement too. And again, all of that stock is now wasted because it cannot be sold.
Since getting the trademark, I’ve had quite a few questions which I’ve answered on both my podcast and below. I’ve put this information together using my own personal experience. None of this information is legal advice and I’d recommend you doing your own research before starting your own trademark journey.
Is it free to trademark a name in the UK?
No, registering a trademark in the UK is not free.
How much does it cost to get a trademark in the UK?
At the time of writing this post, it costs £170 to register a trademark in 1 class. There is an additional fee of £50 for each additional class that you would like to register your trademark in.
How can I check a trademark in the UK?
All UK trademarks are listed in the Trademarks Journal which is held by the Government’s Intellectual Property Office.
Do I need a lawyer to register a trademark?
In a word, no, you don’t need a lawyer to register a trademark in the UK.
I sought legal advice before starting the trademark process, but that was because I wanted some peace of mind and an expert’s opinion before I started on the process. I also wanted to chat with someone who was qualified in this area about the pros and cons of getting a trademark.
Ultimately, though, I applied and registered my trademark by myself. However, if someone had contested my application then I probably would have hired a lawyer as this process of replying to objections seemed a little more complex then I’d be happy dealing with by myself.
How long does it take to get a trademark approved in the UK?
On average, it takes 2 months, plus 2 weeks to get your trademark approved and your certificate issued. Bear in mind, though, that this is also the minimum timeframe. Your trademark application needs to be published for 2 months to allow for any objections to be made. If no objections are made, then you will be issued with your trademark certificate approximately 2 weeks after the objection period has closed. In my experience, I received my trademark within this time period.
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