Intellectual Property Articles

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

AI Policy Template: What UK SMEs Should Include In An Internal AI Use Policy

AI Policy Template: What UK SMEs Should Include In An Internal AI Use Policy

AI tools can be a huge time-saver for UK SMEs - helping you draft emails, summarise meetings, generate marketing copy, and speed up admin. But if your team is using AI at...

22 January 2026
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What Is a Franchise Business? How Franchising Works and Legal Issues in the UK

What Is a Franchise Business? How Franchising Works and Legal Issues in the UK

If you’re looking to grow a proven business model faster, or you want to start a business with an established brand and systems, franchising can look like the best of both worlds....

22 January 2026
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Endorsements In Business Contracts: Meaning And Safe Use In The UK

Endorsements In Business Contracts: Meaning And Safe Use In The UK

Endorsements can be a brilliant growth lever for small businesses. A trusted person (or another business) publicly backs your product or service, and suddenly your marketing hits differently. But endorsements also create...

22 January 2026
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Subcontracting In The UK: Key Legal Considerations

Subcontracting In The UK: Key Legal Considerations

Subcontracting can be a game-changer for small businesses and startups. It lets you scale up quickly, bring in specialist skills, and take on bigger projects without committing to permanent hires. But (as...

21 January 2026
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Exit Strategy for UK Startups & SMEs: Legal Steps for a Sale or Merger

Exit Strategy for UK Startups & SMEs: Legal Steps for a Sale or Merger

If you’re building a startup or growing an SME, it’s easy to treat your exit strategy as something you’ll “figure out later”. But in practice, the smoothest exits are often the ones...

20 January 2026
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Technology Lawyer UK: Roles, When To Hire, And Startup Costs

Technology Lawyer UK: Roles, When To Hire, And Startup Costs

If you’re building or buying technology as part of your business, you’re probably moving fast - new features, new hires, new suppliers, and (hopefully) new customers. But tech moves quicker than legal...

20 January 2026
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Life Sciences Law in the UK: Contracts, IP and Compliance for Startups

Life Sciences Law in the UK: Contracts, IP and Compliance for Startups

If you’re building a life sciences startup or scaling an SME in the UK, you’re probably juggling product development, funding, hiring, and (if you’re lucky) early commercial traction. But life sciences is...

19 January 2026
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Franchise Business In The UK: Legal Checklist For Buyers And Franchisors

Franchise Business In The UK: Legal Checklist For Buyers And Franchisors

Running a franchise business can feel like the best of both worlds. You get the independence of being your own boss, while plugging into an established brand, systems, suppliers and (often) a...

19 January 2026
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Crowdfunding Platforms in the UK: Legal Considerations for Startups

Crowdfunding Platforms in the UK: Legal Considerations for Startups

Crowdfunding platforms can be a powerful way to raise money, validate demand and build a community around your product - all before you’ve scaled. But the legal side can feel like a...

18 January 2026
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Secondment Agreements Explained: What Seconded Means For UK Employers

Secondment Agreements Explained: What Seconded Means For UK Employers

If you’re running a small business, there’ll be times you need extra capability fast - without taking on a permanent hire, and without losing control of quality or delivery. That’s where secondments...

18 January 2026
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Master Service Agreement (MSA): Meaning, Key Terms And When You Need One

Master Service Agreement (MSA): Meaning, Key Terms And When You Need One

If you’re running a growing business, it’s only a matter of time before you find yourself doing repeat work for the same client (or using the same supplier again and again). That’s...

18 January 2026
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When Your Business Needs A Copyright Lawyer And What To Expect

When Your Business Needs A Copyright Lawyer And What To Expect

If you run a small business, copyright can feel like one of those “nice to have” legal topics - right up until someone copies your website, a freelancer disputes who owns the...

18 January 2026
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Commercial Law Solicitors in the UK: What to Look For and When to Hire One

Commercial Law Solicitors in the UK: What to Look For and When to Hire One

If you’re running a small business, you’re probably juggling sales, operations, staff, suppliers, and a never-ending admin list. So when someone tells you to “speak to a solicitor”, it can feel like...

18 January 2026
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Business Legal Services In The UK: What Startups And Small Businesses Need

Business Legal Services In The UK: What Startups And Small Businesses Need

When you’re building a business, “legal” can feel like something you’ll deal with later - once you’ve got customers, cashflow, and a bit of breathing room. But in reality, most legal problems...

17 January 2026
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UK Trademark Register: Search, Apply And Protect Your Business Name

UK Trademark Register: Search, Apply And Protect Your Business Name

You’ve found a business name you love, you’ve bought the domain, and maybe you’ve already started posting on social media. Then someone asks a question that can make your stomach drop: “Have...

17 January 2026
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Misappropriation: Protecting Confidential Information And IP In The UK

Misappropriation: Protecting Confidential Information And IP In The UK

If you run a small business, your most valuable assets aren’t always the ones you can touch. It’s often the behind-the-scenes work: your customer lists, pricing model, supplier terms, software code, marketing...

17 January 2026
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How To Search UK Trade Marks Before You Apply (And What To Check)

How To Search UK Trade Marks Before You Apply (And What To Check)

You’ve picked a business name, designed a logo, and you’re ready to launch. Before you invest in packaging, a domain, signage, and ads, there’s one step that can save you a lot...

16 January 2026
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Registered Trademark (®) Symbol: Meaning, Use and Legal Risks in the UK

Registered Trademark (®) Symbol: Meaning, Use and Legal Risks in the UK

If you’ve spent any time building a brand, you’ve probably noticed the little registered trademark symbol (the “®” symbol) sitting next to business names, logos and product lines. It’s small, but it...

16 January 2026
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How Mergers Work for UK SMEs and Startups

How Mergers Work for UK SMEs and Startups

If you’re running a growing SME or startup, there may come a point where “business as usual” isn’t the fastest route to scale. Maybe a competitor has a customer base you want,...

16 January 2026
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Selling a Business in the UK: Legal Process and Preparation

Selling a Business in the UK: Legal Process and Preparation

Selling a business is a big milestone. For many founders, it’s the moment where years of late nights, product iterations and customer wins finally translate into a tangible outcome. But when you’re...

15 January 2026
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Commercial Contract Solicitors: When SMEs Need Help With Business Agreements

Commercial Contract Solicitors: When SMEs Need Help With Business Agreements

If you run a UK small business, contracts probably show up everywhere - onboarding a new supplier, signing a big client, bringing in a consultant, licensing software, or partnering with another business....

15 January 2026
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When UK Startups Should Use a Holding Company

When UK Startups Should Use a Holding Company

If you’re building a startup, it’s normal to think about “structure” only once things start moving quickly - a new investor conversation, a second product line, or the moment you realise your...

15 January 2026
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Intellectual Property Lawyers: When You Need An IP Solicitor And What To Expect

Intellectual Property Lawyers: When You Need An IP Solicitor And What To Expect

You’ve worked hard to build something real - a brand name customers remember, a product that solves a problem, a website full of original content, maybe even a new piece of tech...

15 January 2026
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What Is BIMI And Do UK Businesses Need A Trade Mark To Use It?

What Is BIMI And Do UK Businesses Need A Trade Mark To Use It?

Email trust has never mattered more for UK small businesses. Inboxes are more crowded than ever, scams are increasingly sophisticated, and customers are cautious about who they open emails from and what...

14 January 2026
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