What you need to know before you start a franchise

Whether you’re actively considering taking your business to the next level through franchising or you’re just getting started on launching your idea, it pays to be aware of the potential implications of franchising. Since the ability to successfully run a franchise scheme depends on having effective protection of your IP in place, we always advise…

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KitKats, four-fingered innovation and trademarking

The humble KitKat is making media headlines thanks to some magical melting moments brought about by a Japanese café. The eatery in question is slotting chocolate fingers of all flavours within the folds of warm patisserie (full details here). This innovation is surely to be commended by fans of the globally popular snack but aside…

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Why comedy copyright is no laughing matter

Have you heard the one about the social media platform that started taking down jokes? No, really! In case you missed it, Twitter has started to remove jokes that are reported as plagiarised from others in an attempt to protect the copyright of comedy. So, as the Edinburgh Fringe Festival comes to a close, we…

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Why your #foodporn could be breaking the law (and it’s not what you think)

Social media and food photos go together like jam and bread, tea and scones or an ice cream on a hot summer’s day.  Some of the most successful accounts on Instagram are those of food bloggers who share snaps of their own creations and meals they’re enjoying at restaurants and even Facebook feeds see a…

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craft paper

The IP problems of home crafting

The popularity of easy-to-use craft selling platforms such as Etsy and Folksy means the number of kitchen table businesses continues to grow. Unfortunately, many of these new small businesses are typically run by solo crafters don’t have a great deal of intellectual property knowhow. According to recent figures released by Etsy, the firm responded to…

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Intellectual property, an introduction for small businesses

Are you a small business owner who is struggling with IP issues or do you run a startup and you’re finding it tricky to get to grips with how you should protect your IP assets? Well, according to recent research, you’re not alone. A survey conducted by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) led the…

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3D printing and intellectual property

While the seemingly thorny 3D printing issue has only reared in the UK in the last few years, the technology itself has been developing steadily since the 1980s. Machines with the ability to print objects came to the attention of mainstream consumers here in the UK and become more of a concern for businesses as…

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