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Watch out when making your mark online
The Intellectual Property Office, which grants intellectual property rights such as trade marks and patents, has introduced the improvements on its website from 7 April 2008 to help speed up the trade mark registration process.
The biggest change is a new fast track examination procedure. For an additional fee of £300, the UK Intellectual Property Office will examine the application and send its report to the trade mark applicant within 10 business days.
However, intellectual property experts at North law firm Ward Hadaway warn that while the application process itself appears easier, there are potential pitfalls for the unwary.Alex Shiel, head of intellectual property at Ward Hadaway has warned: "Those looking to get trade marks for their products, brands and designs need to be aware that it is not all plain sailing even with the improved application process. The procedure relating to the advertisement of trade mark applications in the Trade Marks Journal and the three month period allowed for oppositions still applies in the same way as to a standard trade mark application and brand owners, therefore, still need to ensure that clearance searches have been carried out before any trade mark application is filed”
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