Most entrepreneurs dream about logos, websites and taglines long before they open their doors. But here’s the truth: a beautiful brand without legal protection is a ticking time bomb.
At AWL, we’ve seen too many businesses lose hard-earned equity because they were built without the right legal foundations. The good news? With the right steps, you can secure your brand from day one — and make it a true business asset.
🚀 Step 1 – Start with Clearance, Not Creativity
Before you hire a designer or print your first business card, ensure that your brand name is legally available!
A quick Google search isn’t enough — you need a full trade mark clearance search to see if anyone else has rights to your chosen name or something similar.
🌐 Step 2 – Secure Your Digital Real Estate
Your brand should be consistent everywhere your audience meets you:
- Domain name
- Social media handles
- Branded email addresses
Lock them in early to avoid brand fragmentation or worse, someone else grabbing them.
🛡 Step 3 – File for Trade Mark Protection Early
In the UK, trade mark registration can take several months. The earlier you apply:
- The sooner you get priority rights.
- The easier it is to deter copycats.
- The more confident you can be in your marketing spend.
Think of it as taking out an insurance policy on your brand identity. As a plea from us to you, please do not rely solely on copyright to protect your brand.
🎨 Step 4 – Design with IP in Mind
Make sure your:
- Logos
- Taglines
- Product names
- Colour schemes
…are original and not infringing on existing marks.
Stock imagery or “borrowed” creative elements can cause legal headaches down the line.
We know that there is a temptation to rely heavily on AI and other templates to create your brand, especially in today’s day and age, but we cannot dismiss our own innate creativity.
🌍 Step 5 – Plan for Global Growth
Even if you’re starting local, consider where you might want to expand in the future. Trade mark strategies for international growth should be planned early to avoid costly rebrands or legal disputes when entering new markets.
📖 Real-World Example
One of our clients has recently had to battle it out to defend their brand against someone with a very similar name to theirs in a similar industry. The end result is a co-existence in the UK, however their international marks potentially will require a costly legal battle especially in countries where the other side is intending to trade in.
Whilst not quite a done deal, there is potential for either side to have to rebrand their entire enterprise based on this situation. A costly endeavour either-way which could have been avoided with the proper checks.
💡 Final Word
A legally protected brand:
- Attracts investors
- Builds consumer trust
- Creates licensing and partnership opportunities
- Stands the test of time
At AWL, we help brands blend creativity and protection so that your hard work becomes a long-term asset — not a legal liability.
📩 Ready to launch? Let’s make sure your brand is built on solid legal ground.
Drop us an email at contact@awlconnoisseurgroup.com alternatively book a free initial consultation by clicking here!
Your brand is your business’s foundation. Without legal protection, that foundation is shaky.
In our latest article, we share 5 key steps to ensure your brand is protected from the moment it launches.
AWL Connoisseur Group 