Does anyone know how to go about registering a logo etc and the organisation I need to register it with. Thanks

One way to prove you used it first is to send it to yourself in a registered letter through the royal mail.

An old company I used to work for created a product called Sequencer but where told by the FT who they developed the product with that they wouldn’t register the name as a trademark etc. So they did the above just in case the FT tried to claim it sometime in the future.

OK.....

I am not a lawyer, so you may want to get advice, but here's my understanding.

A logo by itself is covered by copyright. That protects people from using it directly. Copyright comes in to being the moment something is created. In the UK, unliek soem other countries, there is no need to register your copyright - it exists from the moment of creation.

If you wish to ensure greater protection, you can register it as a Trademark - that's done via the Patents Office.

If you pop in to the Business Library and Sheffield Central library, they have copies of the relevant documents for reference there. Intellectual Property Law is, however, a very complex area. Most problems are caused by people not being able to enforce their rights without spending a lot of money.

Joe

Originally posted by serapis
One way to prove you used it first is to send it to yourself in a registered letter through the royal mail.

An old company I used to work for created a product called Sequencer but where told by the FT who they developed the product with that they wouldn’t register the name as a trademark etc. So they did the above just in case the FT tried to claim it sometime in the future.

Good idea!

HOWEVER - this isn't always viewed as being 'solid' - especially in film circles, for example. If you have a lawyer, ask them if they would notarise the relevant materials and hold them for you.

Also, if you do adopt the 'registered mail' approach - don't open it on receipt!

Joe

Thanks, much for this much appreciated advice. Joe, it's not a film; just a one-liner description for a business idea. Would publishing it on the forum count as proof of first use ;)

Originally posted by wendygs
Thanks, much for this much appreciated advice. Joe, it's not a film; just a one-liner description for a business idea. Would publishing it on the forum count as proof of first use ;)

Nope, that puts it in to the public domain, I'm afraid!

And you can't copyright an idea - just expressions of the idea. If the text constitutes a trademark, you can prevent people using the trademark but you can't prevent soemone setting up with the same idea but different logo, etc.

If the PROCESS of the business is something that involves a manufacturing process, or something that sonstitutes a 'thing' - liek a particular widget or process for makingsomething - then you MIGHT be able to get Patent protection - but this gets in to expensive legal advice territory.

Joe :)

Originally posted by JoeP
If you wish to ensure greater protection, you can register it as a Trademark - that's done via the Patents Office.
Slightly off-topic, but something I've always wondered...

When companies trademark their logos, why do some of them have the ® symbol near them, and others have ™?

©2005 Sidla Postings Ltd.

Originally posted by Sidla
Slightly off-topic, but something I've always wondered...

When companies trademark their logos, why do some of them have the ® symbol near them, and others have ™?

©2005 Sidla Postings Ltd.

I have no idea - R is for Registered Trademar, and TM is for Trademark only. I've always assumed that it's different terminology from different countries / legislations.

But I honestly don't know!

Joe

For registering a logo try looking here for further advice as it is a relatively simple procedure and the site contains lots of useful info. search for UK IPO (sorry I cannot post links yet). Cost wise it is £200 to register one mark in one class of goods.

The only tricky part comes if someone opposes your design or mark but if that were to happen there are plenty of patent aagents located within sheffield that would be able to advise you.