Blog & News

Copyright Protects Your Choices, Not Your Subject: Lessons from the Underwater Dog Case

The recent German case concerning the photograph of a dog underwater has raised eyebrows regarding how much of a photograph can copyright really protect. The case concerned a photograph of…

Anatomy of a Confidentiality Agreement – Essential Clauses You Need

Confidentiality agreements, or non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), are essentially types of contracts that allow the parties to discuss certain matters openly, without fear of either party leaving the conversation and sharing…

What Evidence Do You Need to Win an IP Infringement Case?

Winning an IP infringement case rarely comes down to one knockout document. Courts and tribunals build a picture from several strands of evidence. IP infringement occurs when products, creations or…

Jersey Trade Mark System

From 1 August 2026, Jersey becomes its own independent designation under the World Intellectual Property Organisation’s (WIPO) Madrid System for international trade mark registration. This is a procedural change that…

Copyright Infringement: When Should You Send a Legal Notice?

Discovering that your original work, whether a photograph, article, design, musical composition or software code, has been used without your permission can be both frustrating and damaging, particularly where it…

Intellectual Property Due Diligence Checklist for Business Acquisitions

If you are thinking of purchasing a company or considering a merger, it is vital that you are conducting appropriate due diligence of the target company’s IP position, particularly if…

Ten Years On: Has UK IP Law Really Left the EU?

When the UK voted to leave the EU in 2016, many expected sweeping change for intellectual property law. A decade on, the real story is continuity, not revolution. Trade Marks…

A Confidentiality Agreement Lawyer’s Essential Clauses You Need

Confidentiality agreements, or non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), are essentially types of contracts that allow the parties to discuss certain matters openly, without fear of either party leaving the conversation and sharing…

What To Do If You Receive a Trade Mark Opposition Notice

What is a trade mark opposition notice? When you apply to register a trade mark in the UK, your application is examined by the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) and…

Can Someone Stop Me From Using My Business Name? Help from a Business Name Lawyer

Choosing a business name can feel like a creative act and can be quite daunting, but it also carries legal consequences. Already established businesses or individuals can take various legal…

Received an opposition notice to your trade mark application? Here’s what to do next

Brand building takes time. So, when a letter arrives informing you that someone is challenging your trade mark application, the instinct is often to feel blindsided. But opposition notices are…

Count Binface: the IP dispute you weren’t aware of

The recent political news has been dominated by the decision of Nigel Farage to resign his seat as an MP and trigger a by-election in Clacton and re-stand, only to…

A Stitch Too Far? Does Upcycling Fashion New Products or Unravel a Brand’s Reputation?

The rise of the circular economy is gradually altering the fashion industry. More and more consumers are looking beyond fast fashion and traditional high street shopping, and are instead tailoring…

Protecting Your Brand in the Age of Global E-Commerce: Where to Start

Launching a small business online is easier now than ever before. A Shopify or Etsy store, an Amazon listing, or a TikTok Shop account can put your products in front…

The Hidden IP Risks in Influencer and Creator Partnerships

Influencer marketing is one of the most powerful ways to grow a brand, as a well-chosen creator partnership can put your products in front of the right audience, build trust…

Trade Mark Disputes: Why Likelihood of Confusion Isn’t Always Obvious

Likelihood of confusion is a key factor when looking at trade mark infringement cases. Practically, when looking at two similar brand names, you might think it obvious that consumers might…

What does a shark and a bull have in common?

The title of this blog post might sound like the start of a joke, however, the recent decision by the UKIPO to block the registration of “GymBull” on grounds of…

Being Human in the Age of AI

Given that we are constantly barraged with news related to Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) in today’s world, it can be difficult to remember that AI was a relatively niche area of…

When an AI Search Engine Mentions Your Brand, Who Is Actually Speaking?

As AI-powered search becomes increasingly integrated into everyday online activity, courts are beginning to confront a question that would have seemed unimaginable only a few years ago: when an AI-generated…

What are my moral rights?

If you are a creator, artist or performer, you may have heard of moral rights, which are personal rights conferred on copyright owners and performers. Moral rights automatically exist in…

Can I rely on Section 3(6) of the Trade Marks Act, 1994?

Section 3(6) of the Trade Marks Act 1994, is an enforceable total refusal ground for opposing or invalidating a trade mark application or registration at the United Kingdom Intellectual Property…

Can Brands Really Control Where You Sell Their Products Online

The Court of Appeal has handed HOKA owner Deckers a significant victory in a case that could shape how premium brands control online sales in the future. The dispute started…

Post-sale confusion – what is it, and what does it mean for your business?

The influential Supreme Court decision in the UK in Iconix v Dream Pairs [2025] UKSC 25 has shaken up trade mark law significantly. Without dissecting the case in detail, the Supreme…

What Most Start-ups Get Wrong About Intellectual Property (And How to Fix It)

Intellectual property is one of the most widely misunderstood areas of law. Every day, we meet brilliant start-ups with exceptional products, innovative ideas and the capital to build successful businesses,…