How to Copyright Bars Name in London

Usually, people are not aware of the fact that the name of a bar, club or restaurant cannot be registered under copyright act. Bar owners generally comes to know about this fact when they go to the local authority or department that register business’s name. The name of a bar needs a trademark rather than a copyright. For the reason that copyright is filed only for logos, slogans or graphics and not for names.

The major benefit of registering a trademark in United Kingdom is that you get the exclusive rights to use your bar name and in case if someone tries to use it you can take legal action against him/her. This will also allow to use ® sign in front of it to warn others from using it. Registering a trademark will also enable you to franchise your business or let other people have a license to use it or you can also sell that name.

Below are the steps that will guide you how to register a restaurant name trademark in London.

Instructions

  • 1

    Read Booklet


    Once you have finalized a name for your bar then, read the booklet about trademarks that is available with Intellectual Property Office or you can find on their website as well, before you apply for the trademark. It will let you know which trademarks local authorities accept, whether your trademark is already registered, or you have registered your company name with Companies House.

  • 2

    Trademark Registration Process


    After reading the booklet, you will go for the trademark registering process. For that you can either visit Intellectual Property Office (IPO) in person, which is located at 21 Bloomsbury Street, London, WC1B 3HF, United Kingdom view map. Or visit their website for details and on-line registration process. To get details you can also call IPO on these numbers: +44 300 300 2000, +44 1633 814000. IPO accept documents 24 hours a day and seven days a week.


    You can also file your documents by post, courier, fax, online or by other electronic means.

  • 3

    Under on-line registration there are two ways to file for trademark:


    (a) Standard examination service


    (b) Right start examination service


    You will get a £30 discount if a standard examination service is used.


    In case of right start service you wouldn’t get £30 discount but at the time of filling, you will pay just 50 percent of the total fee. The remaining dues will be deposited after receiving the examination report only if you wish to continue with your application. You will get this examination report by email.


    Online payment will be made through major credit/debit cards or you can also pay it through a pre-registered deposit account.

  • 4

    Filling paper, form wouldn’t give you £30 discount neither you will get right start examination facility nor you will get examination report by email.


    The mode of payment in this method is through debit/credit cards, cheques, bank transfer or you can deposit directly in IPO’s account if you do regular business with them or you can use this facility to meet last-minute payment deadlines.

  • 5

    Filling of the form:


    In section 1 give your reference, but it is not mandatory.


    Section 2 is mandatory, in which you have to give them a picture of your trademark. Once you provide them your trademark you cannot alter it because IPO will mark it just the way you have shown it to them. If your trademark is larger than the box on the form, you are allowed to use an extra sheet that shouldn’t be larger than A4 sixe.


    Write in section 3 only if your trademark is three-dimensional or a repeating pattern or a sound in order to explain which of these it is.


    Section 4 is used only if your trademark is shown in particular colours but you do not wish to keep these colours as a characteristic of your mark.


    Use section 5 if you want to fill your trademark with black and white colours as a characteristic of it, for instance a photo negative.


    Section 6 comprises of series of marks that have very minute differences and therefore wouldn’t affect much too, for instance marks in ‘CAPITAL’ and ‘small’ letters.


    Section 7 is for claiming priority from a previous application which was made in a country that had signed the Paris Convention for any goods and services in your request. This claim can be made within six months of the first application.


    Section 8 is again mandatory to fill, as it includes the list of all goods and services you are going to trade. Fill in the correct classes in numeric order, if your goods or services are more than one. Use extra sheet if there is no enough space on the provided page.


    Use section 9 only if you are applying for collective or certification mark. For further details read extra notes on IPO’s website.


    Section 10 remain useful if you want to allow someone to use your mark exclusively or you can also restrict it’s rights of usage.


    Section 11 is another mandatory part of the form, as in this piece you have to provide as many details about your goods or services and whether you wish the application to be registered in your name or in your company’s name.


    If have hired a lawyer to handle this application for you, then provide his/her details in Section 12.


    Another mandatory part in this form is section 13 in which you or the agent you have hired to deal this application on your behalf must sign and date the application.


    In section 14 you have to provide a name and daytime phone number if someone from IPO wants to get in touch with you in case of any query.

  • 6

    Fee Sheet


    After filling in the form you will fill the fee sheet, in which you will write your name, address and mode of payment details.

  • 7

    Submission


    Then submit the form along with fee. Online filling fee is £170, while paper and right start filling fee is £200. Fee for each additional class above one class is £50.

  • 8

    On Receiving Your Application


    When the Intellectual Property Office will receive your application they will closely examine it to verify that you have provided all pertinent information. In case of any problem in your form the authorities can contact you. However, IPO do not refund application fee or premium no matter whatever the reason is. Also the applicant cannot change or modify his or her mark, which he or she had send to IPO.


    IPO saves your details to their database and then issue the applicant filing receipt and application number just after few days of submission. Applicant will receive these on his email, if he or she had e-filed their application OR by post if they had paper filed the application.

  • 9

    Examining Your Mark


    After it is verified that the application is complete and appropriate fee has been deposited then, it will be sent to an examination team who will carefully examine your mark. To learn about the examination process click here.

  • 10

    Check the Progress of Your Application


    You can also monitor the progress of your application by clicking here.

  • 11

    Acceptance of Mark


    If your trade mark has been accepted then, it will be published in the weekly Trade Marks Journal of IPO and they will also inform you the number of that Journal and its publication date.

  • 12

    In Case of Objection


    In case your application is rejected then, depending upon the reason of objection the applicant has a wide range of options to choose from in order to deal with the objection.


    1. Evidence that your mark has acquired a distinctive character


    2. Divide your application


    3. Letters of consent


    If the applicant requires more time to complete few actions then, he or she can avail the facility of Extension of Time.

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