Firm filed for UK IP Office's trademarks
According to Trademark Attorneys at Joshi & Welch LLP, the United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office (UK-IPO) has failed to protect its own name during its re-brand.
The UK-IPO changed its name from the UK Patent Office on 2nd April 2007 but according to Manish Joshi of Joshi & Welch it did not protect itself properly.
The firm then went on to file trademarks for the initials of the Patent Office’s new name – namely UKIPO and UK-IPO as a trademark in relation to IP services.
They claim that they did so in order show organisations the pitfalls they need to be aware of in order to sufficiently protect their brands.
“We are well aware of the trademark filing made by the Patent Office for the mark ‘United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office UK-IP’ back in December 2006 but felt that this did not properly protect them,” said Mr. Joshi. “Marks should be protected in the different ways it is to be used; by what you would be known as and how it will be displayed.”
“We were more than happy to offer the mark we filed back to the Patent Office at no cost – I guess you could call it a gift from us,” he added.
The UK-IPO has confirmed that Joshi & Welch has offered the marks to the Office but did not wish to issue any other statement.
