Blogs

Over the summer as you take time off to relax on holiday, many of you may realise that you'd like to spend more time in nicer places. After realising that staying on vacation is not an option, you may decide that moving to nicer offices upon your return is the answer.

This is something many businesses hear all too often when they are trying to chase their unpaid debts. Debtors come up with ever more creative reasons as to why the debt has not yet been paid. Either that or the debtor simply evades their calls and does not respond to the repeated requests for payment.

A derivative claim is a claim brought against a company’s directors by a shareholder in the name of, and for the benefit of, the company. In tough economic times like these, shareholders of many privately-owned companies are considering whether the directors of their company are accountable for their actions and whether the company is performing as well as it should be.. Shareholder activism is being encouraged and new legislation providing further rights for shareholders is promised but for the meantime the remedies available are in the majority through the Companies Act 2006.

“A dog is for life, not just for Christmas” Wise words indeed, but also protected words! The Dogs Trust has registered the above as a trade mark. Slogans can be massively important to your business and if you use one then all three of the wise men would tell you to get it protected! (That is the last of the rubbish Christmas references… promise)

Yes you guessed it, their names are all registered trade marks. Using your personal name as a trade mark Just like any other type of business name, mark or logo, if your personal name is distinctive and capable of identifying your goods or services from those of your competitors, then it can potentially be registered as a trade mark.

Pantone 2865c. I’m sure you all know it well …… No? Perhaps you would if I told you that it is a particular shade of purple used by a certain chocolate manufacturer? Pantone 2865c is simply a colour and yet Cadbury have the exclusive right to use it in relation to ‘chocolate in bar or tablet form’.

Believe it not, that sound is a registered trade mark! Can I really register a sound…? Yes! A trade mark must be capable of being represented graphically so you may think that a sound cannot be registered. However, as long as the sound can be written down in a clear, precise and objective way, it can be registered as a trade mark.

The much talked about Agency Workers Regulations (AWR) comes in to play on Saturday 1 October 2011 to a mixed reception. The Regulations cover many points but the two main features are discussed below. The Regulations aim to give agency

The Supreme Court have upheld a Court of Appeal decision that car valeters, who have been portrayed in contracts as self- employed, were in reality employees. When determining an individual’s employment status, employment tribunals may disregard terms included in a written agreement where...

The CBI on Tuesday called on the Government to avoid further employment legislation and instead opt to publish guidance and codes for their members to follow. This is a familiar cry and there are few employers who would disagree in principle. The CBI in its request is effectively asking the Government to