A trade mark dispute can put your brand, investment and business plans under pressure. MW Trade Marks offers practical advice on protecting your rights and responding when someone challenges your brand.
We help you understand the issues, consider your options and decide on a proportionate course of action.
Trade mark oppositions
An opposition challenges an application to register a trade mark. We advise businesses considering an opposition to a conflicting application, as well as applicants whose marks have been opposed.
We review the rights and arguments involved and discuss the next steps with you. If you have received correspondence or identified an application of concern, send us the details promptly, including any deadlines.
Infringement and enforcement advice
If another business is using a brand that you believe conflicts with your rights, we can assess the situation and advise on how to respond. We also help businesses facing allegations of trade mark infringement.
Our advice takes account of the rights involved, the use being made of the mark and your commercial objectives. We can discuss the evidence, correspondence and possible routes to resolving the dispute.
Litigation certificates and IPEC experience
Anne Wong and Jon Wyness both hold litigation certificates allowing them to conduct proceedings in the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court (IPEC) relating to trade mark and design infringement.
We have experience of intellectual property disputes in IPEC. We can discuss whether proceedings in that court are appropriate for your matter and explain the practical considerations, potential costs and next steps.
Meet Anne Wong, meet Jon Wyness or read about our design protection services.
A commercial approach to resolving disputes
Not every disagreement needs court proceedings. We take time to understand what you want to achieve and can explore whether negotiation or an agreed solution may meet your needs.
Where proceedings are appropriate, we explain the options and work with you on the next steps. Our aim is to help you make informed decisions about protecting your business.
What should you send us?
- Details of the trade marks or designs involved, including any registration or application numbers.
- Copies of correspondence received or sent, together with any stated deadlines.
- Examples of the use you are concerned about, such as website addresses, screenshots or product photographs.
- A brief account of what has happened and the outcome you would like to achieve.
If you have received a formal claim or a time-sensitive letter, make this clear when contacting us.
Related brand-protection services
For concerns involving a website address, see our domain name advice. If you are planning a new brand, our searches and clearance service can help you consider potential conflicts before launch.
Talk to our attorneys
Whether you need to protect your rights or respond to a challenge, we would be pleased to discuss how we can help.
Arrange a free consultation or explore our wider trade mark services.