Below are some common queries, click on the relevant item for details, and links to other resources:

• I want to register a trademark
  
  As trade marks are territorial an early question to ask yourself is whether to register a UK or EU trademark initially. If you know little about trade marks then our trade mark factsheet is a good place to start. Download it here.
• How do I protect my logo?
  
  You may protect your logo by registering it as a trade mark and/or as a registered design if it is less than a year old.
  
  Logos often feature a word and will be written in a particular font and may also feature an image. So all these separate elements should be searched before filing any trade mark applications to establish whether you can secure exclusivity to them all. A search on the word will be necessary even if you have already registered the company or domain name. See design registration, our search options or our trademark registration packages.
• Someone is passing off by using my business name
  
  If someone is passing themselves off by using the same name as you the first question is, do you have a registered trademark? If you do, it will be easier and cheaper to take action for trade mark infringement to stop others using the same name. If you have not registered a trade mark your claim will be based on the common law of passing off. Submit our free advice form to initiate a discussion/get a price estimate for us to assist you. Alternatively, visit our main website here.
• I have received an opposition letter from the IPO
  
  Oppositions can be a major setback to your trademark application, but they can often be overcome either through negotiation or by submitting a formal response.  If you have received an opposition letter, and would like to find out how best to proceed, make an enquiry.
  
• I am starting a new business, and have managed to register my name as a domain and/or company name. Isn't that enough?
  
  Domain and company names do not give you exclusive rights over a brand.  If another party owns a trademark which conflicts with your domain or company name, they may be able to force you to relinquish them.  It is advisable to have a trademark search before you spend money on marketing a name which you may not be able to use.  To buy a search, visit Trademark Search Options.
  
• I'm going to be selling my products online. How do I get an international trademark?
  
  While your website may potentially sell your products worldwide, a worldwide trademark is prohibitively expensive. To keep your costs down, we recommend a more comprehensive search to check that a word does not conflict with existing registrations in a number of countries, before finally settling on your brand. If you don't carry out such a search, you risk needing to re-brand later, or to block customers in certain countries.
  
  When you have completed an international search, we would advise that you register a trade mark in your key markets- starting initially with either a UK or EU mark, and then extending your protection to the USA or other significant country through the Madrid Protocol.  Go here to learn more about international trademarks.

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