When it comes to launching a new product, everything is in the name. But when deciding which one to choose, it is essential that you ensure that it is original to avoid landing yourself in legal hot water. This can become all the more challenging when launching a product in multiple international markets, and this is exactly the situation our client found themselves in.
Our client is a renowned Japanese tech company that specialises in creating high-utility products for a global market. They were looking to launch an exciting new product – a cutting edge platform that connects different office technologies for a smarter working environment. This product was a big move for the company and in the fast moving and ultra competitive world of tech, they had to get it just right.
But, like with any global product launch, there were a lot of hurdles they needed to overcome. They needed to ensure that their name could be trade marked so they would not run into legal issues down the line, or have bad actors looking to steal their name after the launch.
The tech industry is fraught with challenges related to intellectual property, particularly when it comes to patents and trade marks and this specific product had fierce competition from the likes of tech giants Microsoft. So, there was no room for error.
The worst case scenario would be for the company to launch the product and end up being sued by competitors for trade mark infringement. As this would put their product in jeopardy and lead to major losses. This is where IPTogether came in.
The Challenge
The client’s ongoing struggle was to establish a distinctive, descriptive name that could effectively stand out in a saturated tech market without infringing on existing trade marks. Prior attempts with another legal firm resulted in ambiguous and confusing guidance with complex legal jargon and no clear direction. This left the client frustrated and unprepared to make definitive decisions about their product.
With the global product launch date looming, our client needed help at this ever so critical stage. Our firm’s reputation for providing clear, decisive legal advice and expert handling of complex trade mark issues made us the perfect partner to help our client out of their predicament.
We had a tight window of seven months to do clearance searches across all regions to ensure that no one else had a registered trade mark of the same or similar name and then apply to register our client’s trade mark in each jurisdiction.
Our Approach
IPTogether undertook a comprehensive approach to this trade mark project. Utilising our extensive expertise, we conducted thorough global trade mark clearance searches. Our attorneys meticulously sifted through countless citations to ensure the client’s proposed product names were not only unique but legally defensible across multiple jurisdictions. While working on this project, our client received continuous support from IPTogether’s attorneys, ensuring ready access to expert advice and prompt resolution of any emerging IP concerns. We provided innovative and creative strategies with our sound legal know-how. This enabled us to identify and overcome any potential legal issues related to the product name and put our client’s mind at ease.
The Results
With the help of our team of expert lawyers our client was able to register their product name as a trade mark, protecting them from competitors looking to sue or copycats looking to steal.
By coordinating the trade mark registrations in all primary countries targeted for the launch, IPTogether guaranteed that the client could confidently commercialise their products globally under their chosen name and the launch could go ahead on time, without a hitch.
Through our diligent work, we achieved the following for our client:
- Secured exclusive rights to use their product name globally.
- Achieved comprehensive trade mark protection that supported their international business strategy.
- Commercialised their technology under distinctive trade marks without delay
- Ensured a highly successful and on time product launch.
“Thank you for helping us with this global project to launch successfully without encountering any challenges. Your sound advice and support meant a lot to us.”
- Feedback from the client
IPTogether not only provides robust IP legal support and portfolio management but also ensures that your intellectual property is secured and effectively enforced on a global scale. Thus, minimising the risk of lengthy legal proceedings.
Want to find out more about your intellectual property rights? Then read our blog on intellectual property and why it’s so important.
“When it comes to trade marking a product or company name, ensure to use an Attorney with a track record of success in securing you effective enforcement of your IP rights, without the need to go through lengthy legal proceedings. When it comes to your name, having the right protection in place is key! Often you would need a combination of different forms of IP protection to nail it right and ensure your product or company launch is a success.”
- Gifty Gakpetor, a Senior Trade Mark Lawyer and founder of IPTogether
Why Choose IPTogether
Even the most creative marketing strategy can be thrown into disarray if you find out down the line your name is unusable or has already been taken.
When you have a project you name is everything, don’t let your brand be tarnished by others looking to exploit your success. At IPTogether we worked on IP cases across the world and in a broad range of industries. This means we have an extensive understanding of IP and trade mark laws in multiple jurisdictions and sectors.
So if you are looking to launch a cutting edge new product and want to protect your name as a registered trade mark then get in touch with our team of trade mark lawyers or call us on + 44 (0)330 1339847.
Our team of highly skilled IP lawyers can ensure your name is wholly unique and fully protected under law, helping your business to thrive.
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