What's in a Name? Find out in Belfast on 26 April

ITMA – the Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys - will be exhibiting at the free Business Advice Open Day at the Ramada Hotel, Shaws Bridge, Belfast on Wednesday 26 April between 9.00 am & 4.30 pm.

Words, names, product and package shapes, sounds and smells can all be trade marks. Discover the various forms of trade marks – the mark that distinguishes your goods or services from others – and hear all about the world of trade marks.

Why bother with a trade mark at all? Ask that of Coca Cola, McDonalds, Nike, and millions of other companies all around the world, and they will tell you it’s one of their greatest assets; worth thousands, millions, even billions of pounds.

And if you think it’s only for big companies, just think where they started – from little Acorns do giant Oaks grow. You expect your new business to succeed. Your name; your identity, is all part of that and as you grow, so too will the value of your trade mark.

Come and talk to us to find out what you need to do to protect these valuable assets and how ITMA can help. At least you should be aware of the world of trade marks and what they can mean to you.
For instance, did you know that registering your name at Companies House does NOT give you any trade mark protection? And did you know that it could cost you a lot of money and heartache to ignore trade mark issues?

Probably not - so come and find out how you can avoid or minimise those dangers. It could save you money as well as setting your business off on the right track!

NOTES FOR EDITORS

1. The Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys (ITMA) is the professional body for trade mark attorneys in the United Kingdom. Established in 1934, it plays a significant role in promoting the importance of registering trade marks. Our Members, Trade Mark Attorneys, give specialised legal advice and assistance relating to the selection, registration, protection and exploitation of all kinds of trademarks and brands, as well as designs. More information is available on our website www.itma.org.uk.

2. Much of our Members’ work involves representing national and international clients of all kinds in registered trade mark and registered design matters before the UK Patent Office and in the European Union before the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market. The Institute also administers the Register of Trade Mark Agents; no-one may call themselves a "Trade Mark Attorney" unless they are registered on the Register of Trade Mark Agents.

3. For more on Business Advice Days go to www.businessdaviceday.co.uk.

Press and interview enquiries to Ken Storey, PR Manager, Tel: 020 8941 6079 or Mobile 07710 434 507.