Trade mark success a sign of business confidence
A leading Devon law firm has jumped up the rankings for the Top 100 Trade Mark Filers of 2018-2019 to become the highest ranking firm headquartered in Devon and Cornwall on the list.
Stephens Scown LLP’s intellectual property (IP) team has risen to 64th in the top 100 UK trade mark filers with over 120 trade marks filed last year, and 58th in the top 100 EU trade mark filers with over 100 EU trade marks in the EU last year. The rankings for the Top Trade Mark Filers are presented annually by CITMA, the Chartered Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys.
Stephens Scown files trade marks on behalf of clients from across the UK, and internationally. The firm’s clients come from a variety of sectors including technology, food and drink, business services, fashion, and manufacturing and education.
Despite the difficulties posed by the coronavirus pandemic, the team has seen a steady number of trade marks filed in 2020. Ben Travers, partner and head of Stephens Scown’s intellectual property team, says:
“Despite the great figures from last year, we have filed more trade marks so far in 2020 than we had this time last year. This is especially interesting at times like this as trade mark filings are a good barometer of business confidence. If a business is planning for growth, thinking long-term and values its reputation, it will register its trade mark.
“The fact that people are still filing trade marks at the moment suggests that businesses are thinking about the long term, seeing opportunities in the current situation and potentially using this time to do housekeeping and plan for the post-coronavirus period.”
As well as protecting clients’ brands through trade mark filings, Stephens Scown’s IP team is also able to offer audits to help businesses maximise the return on their investment in innovation.
Stephens Scown’s intellectual property and IT team is one of the largest specialist teams of its kind in the UK and has a 93% success rate with trade mark filings. The team acts for and advises clients including Thatchers, St Austell Brewery, Arden F3 motorsport and Exeter University.
