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Tag Archives: ® symbol

What’s the difference between using a ™ and ® symbol after your brand name?

Posted on March 4, 2013 by Liz Sproston

Anyone with a brand name or logo which they are using ‘as a trade mark’ is permitted to use the ™ symbol after it to indicate that it is being used as a trade mark.

The key though is that in order to gain any value from doing so, you need to ensure that you are using it ‘as a trade mark’ as opposed to merely descriptively.  This means highlighting it from the surrounding text such as by putting it in bold or capital letters, and using it as an adjective rather than as a noun.

The ‘stronger’ symbol to use after your brand name is the ® symbol which puts whoever reads it on notice that your name is a registered trade mark.  By registering a trade mark, it makes it much quicker and cheaper to bring legal action against someone else seeking to use an identical or similar name.

In fact, the use of the ® symbol alone can act as a deterrent against others considering using a similar name to yours.

If you would like to arrange a free discussion about registering your trade mark then please contact us on 07551 585783.

Posted in Blog, Trade Marks | Tagged brand name, logo, ® symbol

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The founder of The Big Ideas Legal Company is Liz Sproston, a qualified solicitor practising in England. She is a self employed practitioner contracted as a consultant to Virtual Law and covered under Virtual Law's professional indemnity insurance that provides cover up to £5 million. Virtual Law is a recognised body that is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA No. 462361), whose rules are available at www.sra.org.uk.

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