Intellectual Property Articles
Expert articles and practical legal guides on intellectual property for uk businesses.
How To Set Up a Crowdfunding Page for Your Business in the UK
Crowdfunding can be a smart way to validate demand, build a community and raise funds without giving up control too early. Whether you’re pre-selling a product, funding a creative project or raising...
12 November 2025
Contract Vs Agreement: What’s The Difference?
If you run a small business in the UK, you’ve probably heard people use “contract” and “agreement” like they mean the same thing. In everyday conversation, that’s fine. Legally, though, there’s an...
12 November 2025
Website Copyright In The UK: What It Covers And How To Protect It
Your website is often the first place customers meet your brand. It’s your shopfront, your brochure and your content hub all in one. That means the copyright in your site - the...
12 November 2025
Database Rights In The UK: What Businesses Need To Know
If your business relies on data - customer lists, product catalogues, property listings, price histories, research datasets, or a unique directory - you likely have a valuable asset sitting in your systems:...
12 November 2025
How To Renew a Trade Mark in the UK
If you’ve registered your brand name or logo, great - that’s one of the best ways to protect your business. But many owners don’t realise that your UK trade mark isn’t “set...
12 November 2025
Trade Secrets in the UK: Protecting Confidential Know-How
Every business has something unique that gives it an edge - a recipe, a pricing model, a supplier list, a manufacturing method, or even a bespoke algorithm. In UK law, these are...
12 November 2025
How To Start a Franchise in the UK: Legal Requirements
Considering turning your successful business into a franchise? It’s an exciting way to scale without opening every new location yourself. Done right, franchising can help you grow your brand quickly, attract investment...
11 November 2025
Free NDA Template: Should You Use One in the UK?
Sharing your ideas, pricing, customer lists or product roadmap is often essential to doing business. But without an NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement), that information can walk out the door. If you’re searching for...
11 November 2025
How To Register a Design in the UK
If you’ve invested time and money in how your product looks, it’s worth protecting that value. Registering a design can give your business powerful, nationwide rights over the appearance of your product...
11 November 2025
Passing Off in Tort: What UK Businesses Need to Know
If you’ve spent time and money building your brand, the last thing you want is a competitor trading on your reputation. That’s where the tort of passing off comes in - it...
11 November 2025
Legal Steps and Risks When Buying a Business in the UK
Buying an existing business can be a smart way to fast‑track growth. You get customers, brand recognition, suppliers and systems on day one – without starting from scratch. But a successful purchase...
11 November 2025
How To Trade Mark A Name In The UK
Your business name is often the first thing customers remember - it’s your identity, your reputation and your competitive edge. If you want to stop competitors using a confusingly similar name, the...
10 November 2025
Software Intellectual Property In The UK: What You Need To Know
If you’re building an app, a SaaS platform or custom tooling for your business, your most valuable asset is often your software intellectual property (software IP). Getting the legal protection right from...
10 November 2025
Franchising Pros And Cons In The UK
Franchising can look like a shortcut to growth - whether you’re thinking about buying into a proven brand or turning your own successful concept into a network. But it’s not a one-size-fits-all...
10 November 2025
Software Licence Agreement: What To Include In The UK
If you build, sell, distribute or use software in your business, a clear Software Licence Agreement is one of the most important contracts you’ll put in place. It sets the ground rules...
10 November 2025
How To Hire a Small Business Lawyer in the UK
Whether you’re incorporating a new venture, hiring your first employee or signing a chunky supplier agreement, there will be moments where you think: “We should probably get a lawyer to look at...
10 November 2025
How To Register A Sole Trader Business Name In The UK
If you’re about to launch a small business as a sole trader, your brand name is a big deal. It’s how customers remember you, search for you, and recommend you. But UK...
10 November 2025
UK Trademark Classes Explained
Registering a trade mark is one of the most effective ways to protect your brand. But before you file, you’ll need to decide which “trademark class” (or classes) your application should cover....
9 November 2025
Copyright vs Trade Mark In The UK: Which Do You Need?
Building a brand you’re proud of takes time, money and creativity. The last thing you want is a copycat piggybacking on your work - or, just as risky, an unexpected letter claiming...
9 November 2025
Chinese Trade Mark Register: How To Search And File In China
Expanding into China or manufacturing there? Protecting your brand on the Chinese Trade Mark Register is one of the most important steps you can take as a UK business. China is a...
9 November 2025
How To Buy A Domino’s Franchise In The UK
Thinking about buying a Domino’s franchise in the UK? It’s a proven brand with a strong delivery model, national advertising and systems that can fast-track your growth compared to starting a pizza...
9 November 2025
Can You Patent a Name in the UK? How to Protect Your Brand
If you’re building a brand, your business name is one of your most valuable assets. It’s on your shopfront, your website, your invoices - and it’s how customers recognise and recommend you....
9 November 2025
Franchising Law in the UK
Thinking about turning your successful concept into a franchise, or buying into a proven brand? Franchising can be a powerful way to expand with lower capital outlay and faster market penetration. But...
8 November 2025
TM vs ®: What’s The Difference In The UK?
If you’re building a brand, you’ve probably seen the TM and ® symbols everywhere and wondered which one you should use, and when. It’s a small detail - but getting it wrong...
8 November 2025
Need help with your business legals?
Speak with Sprintlaw to get practical legal support and fixed-fee options tailored to your business.