Intellectual Property Articles
Expert articles and practical legal guides on intellectual property for uk businesses.

Can You Trademark A Colour In The UK?
If you’re building a brand, colour can feel like your secret weapon. Maybe it’s the colour you use on your packaging, your website buttons, your storefront signage, or the background behind your...

Modelling Contracts: Key Terms And Clauses Businesses Should Know
If your business works with models (for fashion, product shoots, e-commerce, events, fitness campaigns, brand content or influencer-style campaigns), having a proper modelling contract in place is one of the simplest ways...

Directors’ Agreement: When You Need One And Key Terms To Include
If you’re running a limited company, your directors are the people making the big calls - on strategy, spending, hiring, growth and risk. But here’s the thing: many small businesses appoint directors...

What Is A Trade Secret? (2026 Updated)
If you run a business, you probably have at least one "thing" that gives you an edge - a recipe, a process, a client list, a pricing model, or even just the way you pitch and deliver your service....

What Is A Collaboration Agreement? (2026 Updated)
Collaborations can be exciting. You've got a shared vision, complementary skills, and (hopefully) a plan to build something bigger than what either of you could do alone. But when a collaboration starts...

What UK SMEs Must Include In Their Contracts (And When To Get Legal Help)
If you run a small business, you’re probably making agreements every week - with customers, suppliers, contractors, partners, venues, platforms, and more. The tricky part is that many of those “agreements” are...

How To Trademark Your Company Name In the UK
You’ve picked a company name, bought the domain, set up your socials, and started building real momentum. Then someone tells you to “trademark it” - and suddenly you’re wondering whether you’ve missed...

How To Draft A Contract In The UK: Clear, Enforceable Agreements
If you run a small business, contracts probably show up everywhere - quoting a customer, onboarding a supplier, hiring a freelancer, or partnering with another business. And yet, “we’ll just put something...

How Much Does a Worldwide Patent Cost? International Filing Fees & Options
If you’ve built something genuinely new - a product, a process, a piece of hardware, or a technical improvement - you’ll probably hit the same question most growing businesses do: How much...

How To Trademark A Logo And Business Name In the UK
Your name and logo are often the first things customers remember about your business. They’re also the easiest things for competitors (or copycats) to imitate if you don’t protect them properly. If...

How To Buy An Existing Business In the UK: Legal Checklist
Buying an existing business can be one of the fastest ways to grow - you’re not starting from zero, you’re stepping into an operation with customers, suppliers, systems, and (hopefully) revenue already...

How To Sell Your Company In the UK: Legal Checklist
Selling a business can be one of the biggest (and most emotional) decisions you’ll make as a founder. Maybe you’ve built something valuable and you’re ready to exit, or perhaps a buyer...

Trade Marking In The UK: How To Register And Protect Your Brand
If you’re building a brand, you’re probably spending real time (and money) on your name, logo, packaging, website and marketing. Registering a trade mark is one of the most practical legal steps...

How To Register A Design In The UK
If you’ve spent time (and money) developing how a product looks, you’ll want to protect it before it starts gaining traction. Whether you’re launching a physical product, packaging, a new piece of...

Licensing vs Franchising: Key Differences For UK Businesses
If you’ve built something that works - a product, a brand, a process, or a whole business model - it’s completely normal to start thinking: “How do I grow this without doing...

Software Licence Agreements: What Businesses Need to Know in the UK
If your business uses, sells, builds, or integrates software, you’re almost certainly dealing with a software licence - even if you’ve never called it that. Maybe you’re a startup offering a paid...

How To Trademark A Brand Name In The UK
When you’re building a business, your brand name can quickly become one of your most valuable assets. It’s what customers remember, what they search for, and what they recommend to others. But...

Patent vs Trademark: What’s the Difference for UK Businesses?
If you’re building a new product, brand, or tech-enabled service, you’ve probably heard people throw around “patent” and “trade mark” as if they’re interchangeable. They’re not. Understanding the difference between a patent...

Intellectual Property Assets: What They Are And How To Protect Them
When you’re building a small business, it’s easy to focus on the things you can physically see: stock, equipment, premises, cash in the bank. But for many UK businesses (especially service businesses,...

Legal Packages for UK Startups and SMEs: What’s Included and How to Choose
If you’re building a startup or running a growing SME, you’ll probably reach a point where you think: “We need to get the legal side sorted… but where do we even start?”...

Essential Legal Documents UK Startups & SMEs Need To Protect Their Business
When you’re building a startup or small business, it’s easy to focus on the exciting stuff first: finding customers, improving your product, hiring your first team member, and getting your brand out...

Parody Law: Copyright, Trade Marks And Fair Dealing In The UK
Memes, spoof ads, “lookalike” brand jokes, satirical social posts – parody can be a powerful marketing tool for small businesses. It can also be a fast track to a takedown request (or...

How To Protect Your Company Name In The UK: Trademarks And Brand Rights
If you’ve put time (and money) into building a name for your business, it’s completely normal to worry about someone else copying it, registering it, or trading off your reputation. A lot...

Free Service Agreement Template (UK): Key Terms And When To Get Legal Help
When you’re running a small business, it’s normal to want to move fast. A new client says “yes”, a supplier is ready to start, or you’ve got a contractor lined up for...
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