Creating a Brand Identity: A Guide for Designers: (Graphic Design Books, Logo Design, Marketing)

by Catharine Slade-Brooking

A legally registered trademark is identified by the small ® symbol next to it, and enjoys several benefits: • A trademark makes it easier to take legal action against anyone who uses the brand without permission • Trading Standards officers or the police can bring criminal charges against counterfeiters if they use the brand • The brand becomes the property of the holder of the trademark, which means it can be legally sold, franchised or licensed to allow others to use it Applying for a trademark is a reasonably cheap and generally uncomplicated process. For more information on how to apply for a trademark in the UK go online to the UK Intellectual Property Office at www.ipo.gov.uk. In the US contact the United States Patent and Trademark Office (www.uspto.gov).