It`s the phrase chanted by fans when England striker Jamie Vardy works his magic on the pitch. Now the soccer star`s wife, Rebekah, has revealed that she is trying to trademark `Jamie Vardy`s having a party.’ The admission came during a Times newspaper interview with the couple at their Leicestershire home.
Trademarking the phrase means the Vardys can keep control of the phrase and its use . (Even though, according to local newspaper the Leicester Mercury `Jamie Vardy`s having a party` first emerged on a fans forum back in 2013 when supporters discussed finding a chant for their favourite player)
However, Vardys` move is also a reminder how important it is for anyone in business to ring-fence their name or catchphrase.
Only this week it was revealed that British supermarket Iceland could face a legal battle to save its name after the Icelandic government confirmed it is considering launching legal action.
The firm, which specialises in frozen food, has been trading under the name for 45 years and owns the European trademark for using the name Iceland, which would be the focus of any legal challenge. But businesses on the island now claim they are being prevented from promoting their own goods and services that include the name of their homeland because of the trademark registration across Europe.
So why is a trademark so important? After all, you`ve cracked the idea, had the light bulb moment and come up with the business plan which is going to earn you a fortune. What`s more, you`ve given your project the unforgettable tag which will trip off the lips and make sure everyone remembers who you are.
“Registration of a trademark is all about protection. Simply registering the existence of a limited company at Companies House, does not give the proprietor, or the owner, the legal right to exclusively use a name in connection with the goods or services for which it is registered says Gemma Lingard, a specialist intellectual property lawyer with Gorvins solicitors. ` Registering a trademark does`
However, it seems that steaming in with the first name that comes to mind may not be the best thing to do.
`Your business name or brand is one of the most fundamental ways in which customers recognise and interact with you and your brand – therefore it is crucial to get it right!
`You want to stand out from the crowd, be unique, keep it simple and stay true to your values. A catchy name often means your brand stays fresh and memorable overtime (think of the big ones such as Apple, Google, Amazon). That`s why you have to try and stay clear of unusual spellings or quirky acronyms, you don’t want to constantly have to spell it out. Likewise, unless a particular place or location of integral to your brand, try and avoid brand names that reference these. Not only may you end up with an ‘Iceland’ situation but you may end up limiting your product to a particular geographic area or prevent expansion.`
Gemma added that the trademark must be unique so search the trademark register beforehand to make sure if anyone has already registered a mark identical or similar to your proposed application.
Many businesses focus on the name of the senior partner or sole trader. Earlier this year Great British Bake Off judge Paul Hollywood registered his name as a trademark for a huge list of potential products and services, ranging from mineral waters to hotel supplies.
The 50 year old former baker applied to the Intellectual Property Office to trademark Paul Hollywood for goods and services including fruit juices, craft beers, restaurants, bars, cafes and hotel services. He already has a range of kitchenware including cake tins and baking trays.
It might even make sense to trademark a nickname associated with your business. Reality television star Kris Jenner of Keeping Up With The Kardashians trademarked the word `momager`, embracing a nickname that has stuck ever since her family`s rise to fame.In this case, once trademarked, Jenner would have the right to sue anyone who uses the nickname without permission.
But what is the difference between a trademark and a business name? And do you need to do one if you have the other?
`Trade marks and brands are often used interchangeably, says Gemma “A brand or business name identifies a specific product or name of a company – think of Coca-Cola, Nokia (that ring tone!) and MacDonald’s. Brands communicate the message about the product or service, to give the consumer reassurance about the origin. A brand once registered can become a trade mark. A trademark is the legal representation of that brand and can be any combination of a name, slogan, logo or sound that protects the unlawful use of the brand name by anyone else.”
`There is no need to register your brand as a trademark, but if you have spent time developing your brand or name and building up the brand identity, why wouldn`t you want to protect your business by registering the trade mark? This gives you the legal protection from others from copying your idea. `
Registration of a trademark takes around four months (providing no-one objects) and a registered trade mark lasts about 10 years.
However, a trade mark only registered in the UK will only protect your brand in the UK. If you feel that you need to widen the net, you may consider registering your brand as an EU Trade Mark or as a Trade Mark in individual countries further afield.
Adds Gemma Lingard “A trade mark is a valuable commercial asset and can add significant value to your business if you ever come to sell it. It is relatively easy to protect and enforce and serves as a powerful deterrent to possible infringers. A trade mark ultimately gives protection to the brand you have worked hard to build up.”