Small firms are being offered free advice on new trademark legislation as part of a series of events run by the UK Intellectual Property Office (UK-IPO) next month.
The two-hour sessions will include a presentation focusing on the trademark system and the impact of the changes to legislation which will come into effect from October 1 2007.
“These changes affect every trade mark applicant and holder, and the Office is keen to ensure that as many of our customers are made aware of the change in our procedures,” said Robin Webb, director of trademarks at UK-IPO.
A recent UK-IPO survey found that small businesses could be missing out on valuable revenue from their innovative ideas because they do not know enough about intellectual property (IP) rights.
Only 11% of small companies (fewer than nine employees) know that publishing an idea before officially filing it will invalidate a patent application, according to the poll.
When asked which sources they would use to check a new product name, only half of small and medium-sized businesses said they would search UK trademarks.
Only 8% of firms assigned specific responsibility to a company individual to look after IP rights. However, this figure rises to 57% for larger firms.
The free trademark events take place in London on 3 and 4 September, Birmingham on 7 September, Manchester on 10 September, Newport, South Wales on 11 September, Leeds 14 September and Glasgow on 17 September. For more information visit www.ipo.gov.uk
© Crimson Business Ltd. 2007
