The franchise business will contact you by means of email and/ or telephone only to the email address and phone number you have provided.
By submitting the enquiry form you are consenting to send your personal information to the selected franchise business.
You also agree to receive further newsletter email marketing from What Franchise.
Close
How can I check if a franchisor has registered its brand name as a trade mark?
A franchisor may have registered its brand name either as a Community Trade Mark with the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market or as a national trade mark with the UK Intellectual Property Office.To check if the brand has been registered and which option the franchisor has gone for, use the online database at the UK-IPO. The screen shows the differing searches available to you and allows you to search either by the brand itself or by proprietor. Once you have found the brand you are looking for, it is important to check that the ‘Status’ specifies it is registered.You will also need to check the nature of the trade mark, as not all registrations will give the franchisor the same protection. A stylised trade mark (where the trade mark is shown in a particular type of script or font and/ or combined with a logo) will provide less protection. In order to give the broadest possible protection, the brand should be registered as a ‘word mark’ in plain black font. You may also want to consider if any stylised trade mark registered looks the same as you have seen the trade mark actually used by the franchisor and other franchisees.However, you should not just rely on this search, as there could be other non-registered rights not shown in the UK-IPO search. Also carry out additional searches through Google and Companies House and check if domain names have been registered by the franchisor. Trade marks are a complicated area and it is advised you show the results of your searches to your lawyer, so that they can advise you on the protection that has been obtained by the franchisor.
You might also be interested in
Answered by Vincent Anthony
Vincent Anthony writes: The property market has wide appeal because it is relevant to everyone: we all... read more
Answered by Louise Harris
Louise Harris writes: Richness or wealth is relative. We always want more, I guess. So, what is... read more
Answered by Shelley Nadler
Shelley Nadler writes: A concern that businesses may have when deciding to franchise their business, is the... read more
Answered by Alan Wilkinson
Alan Wilkinson writes: There are two elements to consider here. First is the franchise fee itself, and... read more
Exciting Franchise Opportunities
Start your own Granite & TREND Transformations franchise
Yes
Find Out More£600,000 to £800,000
Request Free Information
Send a free enquiry to Granite & TREND Transformations for further information!
Start your own Blam Partners franchise
Yes
Find Out MoreAt least £8,000
Request Free Information
Send a free enquiry to Blam Partners for further information!
Start your own Business Partnership franchise
Yes
Find Out MoreN/A
Request Free Information
Send a free enquiry to Business Partnership for further information!
Start your own Subway Resale Opportunities franchise
Yes
Find Out MoreN/A
Request Free Information
Send a free enquiry to Subway Resale Opportunities for further information!
Start your own Just Clear franchise
Yes
Find Out MoreN/A
Request Free Information
Send a free enquiry to Just Clear for further information!
Companies to Consider
Get expert franchising news delivered straight to your inbox
Franchise news, advice and new opportunities delivered weekly.
Must Read Articles
-
A ‘workout’ plan to build and maintain a successful fitness franchise
Added one month ago | 2 min read
-
5 reasons why you should invest in Mathnasium
Added about 2 months ago | 2 min read
-
5 minutes with Greg Renk MD at care franchise Walfinch
Added about 2 months ago | 2 min read
Franchises by Minimum Investment
Find your next business opportunity
Search 100s of UK franchises and become your own boss today.
-
Under 10k
Starting a franchise doesn't have to be costly
Click here -
Under 20k
A mid-range investment for the more experienced
Click here -
Over 50k
If budget is not an issue, then don't miss these.
Click here -
Local Franchises
Find the perfect franchise in a location to suit you
Click here
What Franchise Newsletter
Keep up to date with all the industry news