Trade Mark Monitoring Service
Business Legal Services
Trade Mark Monitoring Service
Protect and enforce your trade mark rights with our trade mark monitoring service
Each day, businesses across the world are applying for trade marks to identify themselves to their customers and distinguish themselves from their competitors. But if a competitor or counterfeiter applies for a confusingly similar trade mark to that of your business, you will have a limited amount of time to stop them. Unfortunately, many business owners discover these applications for similar trade marks only after the deadlines for action have passed.
Our trade mark monitoring service helps you proactively monitor trade mark applications, alerting you to potential trade mark conflicts. If we discover a potential threat, we can work with you to oppose the trade mark application or persuade the applicant to make changes.
Why should you monitor your trade mark?
Monitoring your trade mark is important for a number of reasons, including:
Preventing competitors from using identical or similar trade marks to that of your business
If you do not police and enforce your trade mark rights, your brand could become less distinctive over time as competitors – or even counterfeiters – successfully apply for similar trade marks. Competitors might even be able to object to your own use of your brand. Our trade mark monitoring service is a cost effective way of identifying trade mark applications that we believe could damage or dilute your brand identity.
Stopping competitors from registering your trade mark abroad
If a business applies for a trade mark that is identical to yours in a country where you do not currently have a registered trade mark, the trade mark examiner will not see a conflict so you won’t be alerted. As a result, you could be denied the use of your trade mark when you decide to expand into that territory.
Our trade mark monitoring service allows you to identify conflicting trade mark applications in your selected other countries and regions, giving you enough time to challenge any relevant trade mark applications.
Avoiding reputational damage
In an increasingly competitive market, some businesses will intentionally apply for trade marks for words or logos that are very similar to popular brands as a deliberate attempt to deceive the public. This unethical practice could tarnish your brand in the minds of your customers if they mistakenly buy inferior products sold by another company.
Our trade mark monitoring service will help you discover trade mark “hijackers” who apply for similar trade marks to the ones you own. It will allow you to intercept and take enforcement action against unethical sellers at an earlier stage before they damage your brand.
SERVICE DELIVERABLES:
Trade mark monitoring service
If you choose our trade mark monitoring service, you’ll receive and benefit from:
Set up of a bespoke trade mark monitor
Once you sign up to our trade mark monitoring service, we will set up a watch on your behalf, customised to suit your requirements. Examples of customisation include the goods and services covered by trade mark and/or the geographical locations you would like to monitor.
Reports with commentary from a trade mark expert
If we identify a problematic trade mark application, our trade mark team will produce a report for you. We will provide commentary on each trade mark application identified and using an easy to navigate traffic light system, we will highlight the applications we believe may pose a risk to your business.
Practical trade mark opposition advice and guidance
Once a trade mark application is published, there is a defined period during which its registration can be opposed. We can identify the deadlines early and advise you on the opposition process. If you choose to oppose a trade mark application, we can deal with any opposition work and correspondence on your behalf, which will be charged separately to our trade mark monitoring service.
Set up a trade mark monitor and protect your brand
We’re not like traditional law firms. To provide your business with flexible and affordable legal support, there are three different ways you can work with us: pay as you go and two subscriptions. Learn more about our service plans.
Trade Mark Monitoring Service
How much does the trade mark monitoring service cost?
| UK | Europe | Worldwide | |
| Engage plan
Legal support on our standard rates |
£298 per year | £596 per year | £894 per year |
| Enable plan
Monthly subscription |
£149* per year | £298* per year | £447* per year |
| Extend plan
Quarterly subscription |
Cost equivalent to 1 hour from your plan | Cost equivalent to 2 hours from your plan | Cost equivalent to 3 hours from your plan |
The cost for the trade mark monitor service is equivalent to 1-3 hour/s of legal support time per trade mark, subject to the geographical locations you want to monitor. Our Enable and Extend plans offer up to 50% discount on our Standard Rates (Engage plan).
The above listed prices represent the annual cost of the service per trade mark. The cost includes the initial set up of the service, ongoing monitoring and reporting. The costs are exclusive of VAT and applicable software licence charges per trade mark.
Trade mark opposition work is charged at the usual hourly rate according to your service plan.
*Minus any accrued credit on your Enable plan.
How does the trade mark monitoring work?
The monitoring software alerts our team of trade mark experts as soon as someone applies for a trade mark that is similar to the one you own.
We use our experience to filter out irrelevant trade mark applications, allowing you to focus on applications that could pose a risk to your business. If we find a trade mark application that we believe will damage or dilute your trade mark rights, we can help you oppose the trade mark.
We will need to know what trade marks (or elements of your trade marks) you want to monitor, the categories of goods and services to check against, and the countries you wish to monitor. If we find a mark of concern, we will report this to you immediately.
Our Trade mark solicitors
Why choose Harper James?
Our trade mark experts are with you every step of the process. We take the time to truly understand your business and its requirements. More importantly, if we do identify a conflicting trade mark application, we have the expertise to help you successfully oppose a conflicting trade mark application without any delay.
We are also experienced in helping our clients manage their IP after they have successfully registered their trade mark. Other post registration services include trade mark licensing, exploitation, litigation and renewals.
Our team solicitors have a wealth of experience in trade mark law, with the vast majority of our solicitors having previously worked at top 100 UK law firms or in-house at start-ups through to SMEs and large international businesses.
TESTIMONIALS
What our clients say
We pride ourselves on delivering an excellent service for clients, but don’t just take our word for it.
It was difficult to find suitable support for my IP problem and such a relief to find Harper James Solicitors. Lindsay was fantastic at guiding me through the process and I couldn’t have been happier with the result.
Mariani Robinson
Founder,
Naturally Lady
The extend service we get from Harper James allows us to combine their expertise with that of our own in-house counsel. It means we can get quick and trustworthy legal advice from specialists in every legal area, as and when we need it. There are no hidden extras and the service we have received has always demonstrated an awareness of our fast-moving commercial requirements.
Amelia Guilfoyle
Head of legal,
Zoopla
Lindsay and the Harper James team have been incredibly supportive and helpful. I could not be more pleased with their service and the end result. It has avoided a costly and potentially difficult rebrand for Mama Bamboo.
Laura Crawford
CEO and Founder,
Mama Bamboo
I was looking for intelligent, fast feedback on things I couldn’t do myself. Every step of the way, Harper James have fulfilled that promise – they’ve been so responsive. It’s run as a business, not as a law firm. Anyone who’s been near a law firm knows the difference. It’s a real pleasure.
Geeta Sidhu-Robb
CEO and Founder,
Nosh Detox
It was difficult to find suitable support for my IP problem and such a relief to find Harper James Solicitors. Lindsay was fantastic at guiding me through the process and I couldn’t have been happier with the result.
Mariani Robinson
Founder,
Naturally Lady
The extend service we get from Harper James allows us to combine their expertise with that of our own in-house counsel. It means we can get quick and trustworthy legal advice from specialists in every legal area, as and when we need it. There are no hidden extras and the service we have received has always demonstrated an awareness of our fast-moving commercial requirements.
Amelia Guilfoyle
Head of legal,
Zoopla
Lindsay and the Harper James team have been incredibly supportive and helpful. I could not be more pleased with their service and the end result. It has avoided a costly and potentially difficult rebrand for Mama Bamboo.
Laura Crawford
CEO and Founder,
Mama Bamboo
I was looking for intelligent, fast feedback on things I couldn’t do myself. Every step of the way, Harper James have fulfilled that promise – they’ve been so responsive. It’s run as a business, not as a law firm. Anyone who’s been near a law firm knows the difference. It’s a real pleasure.
Geeta Sidhu-Robb
CEO and Founder,
Nosh Detox
Pricing and service plans
Legal support designed
to fit your business needs
Our three transparent service plans are designed to give you the widest possible access to high-quality legal advice, whatever the size and nature of your business:
Engage
Flexible access to senior solicitors at highly competitive rates
An alternative to our subscription plans, offering access to full service legal expertise on a project-by-project basis.
Enable
Purpose built legal support for start-ups and smaller businesses
Monthly subscription plan for £219 per month, with £149 monthly credit and access to all legal services at 50% discount on our Standard Rates.
Extend
Comprehensive legal partnership for established businesses
Fully account managed and scalable annual subscription plan with support from a curated team of partners and senior solicitors, with up to 36% discount on our Standard Rates.
