Trade Marks 4 You

08/06/2026

Your designs, ideas and products are what make your business unique.

The IPO has a step-by-step guide to help business owners identify and protect any creative assets they may have built, such as their business name or logo, and the practical steps to take next.

Discover what valuable assets your business may hold and how to maximise them here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/get-intellectual-property-rights-step-by-step/get-intellectual-property-rights-step-by-step

06/06/2026

We’d like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK, remember your settings and improve government services.

06/06/2026

🚨 SCAM ALERT

Businesses are being targeted by third parties charging inflated costs for trade mark services.

Here are 5 red flags to look out for:

❌ Inflated costs – filing for a trade mark direct with the IPO costs from £205
❌ Pressure to pay immediately to a third party account
❌ Requests for personal information
❌ Poor quality letters/emails with spelling & grammatical errors
❌ Fake websites or telephone numbers supplied

Stay vigilant. If in doubt check with IPO – [email protected] If in doubt check with [email protected]

24/05/2026

Planning to build sandcastles at the beach this bank holiday? Don’t forget your bucket.

In 1901, inventors Ewing J. Denney and John Jolley patented improvements to toy buckets (GB190117788A), adding ornamental design features that helped children pack sand, turn the bucket upside down and create perfectly shaped sand pies.

23/05/2026

Did you know that original knitting patterns are protected by UK copyright law?

The written instructions in a knitting pattern are protected by copyright as literary works, even if they are mostly letters and numbers.

Read our Copyright Notice on knitting patterns to learn more: https://bit.ly/43noiuM

17/05/2026

What if your shoes didn’t just walk but bounced back?

In 1986, John Stuart James Waldron and Wendy Dawn Waldron filed a patent for sprung footwear, describing footwear designed to add a spring‑loaded effect to walking and jumping.

Using coil springs and a curved base, the design shows how inventive engineering can be applied to everyday items, even something as familiar as footwear, in unexpected ways.

30/04/2026

29/04/2026

What is intellectual property?

It's something you create with your mind such as:
• invention
• a story
• artwork
• symbol.

Want to learn more? Check out our guide for details [link]: https://www.gov.uk/intellectual-property-an-overview/protect-your-intellectual-property
--
Beth yw eiddo deallusol?

Mae'n rhywbeth rydych chi'n ei greu gyda'ch meddwl fel:
• dyfais
• stori
• gwaith celf
• symbol

Eisiau dysgu rhagor? Edrychwch ar ein canllaw am fanylion [dolen]: https://www.gov.uk/eiddo-deallusol-trosolwg/diogelu-eich-eiddo-deallusol

23/04/2026

Check out our free IPO 'Apply for a patent' guidance pages!

To apply for a patent your invention must be:

▫️new, not publicly available
▫️inventive
▫️something usable or a process

Learn more about applying for a patent [link]: https://gov.uk/patent-your-invention

19/04/2026

As we count down to 2026, we are looking at how patents protect innovation in sport.

In 1993, Dunlop Limited patented a cricket bat design that reflected how sports equipment can evolve, combining a synthetic body with a traditional wooden striking face.