Welcome to CITMA
Founded in 1934, chartered in 2016, The Chartered Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys (CITMA) is a professional membership organisation with the power to shape law and practice - nationally and internationally. Find out more
What is a trade mark?
Let our experts help you get to grips with trade marks and other intellectual property rights.
Find out how a Chartered Trade Mark Attorney will help you to navigate intellectual property law.
What is a trade mark?
Trade marks are valuable business assets - what are they and how can you get one?
Getting a trade mark
How can you get a trade mark - we take you through the process step-by-step.
Find a Chartered Trade Mark Attorney
Use our directory to find intellectual property legal experts.
CITMA blog
Read fascinating and entertaining insight into intellectual property.
The vape escape: how brand owners can fight back
Red Bull, Ferrara Candy Co. and Wrigley are amongst the hundreds of food and drink brand names to have been used by vaping companies. These brand owners are fighting back.
Copyright in gaming — why is everyone suing Fortnite?
The incredible success of gaming sensation Fortnite has sparked a number of high-profile legal battles over the copyright of elements of the game, as Akber Ahmed explains.
How McDonald’s lost its Big Mac trade mark
How did Irish burger chain Supermac’s manage to get the Big Mac trade mark cancelled across the EU? The answer lies in the lack of evidence presented by McDonald’s as Daniel Bailey explains.
10 myths of trade mark law unlocked
Can you register common English words as trade marks? Are ® and ™ symbols the same? We asked a Chartered Trade Mark Attorney to unlock some common myths of trade mark law.
Upcoming events
Earn CPD and network with the IP profession at our events.
Case comments
Read analysis from recent trade mark cases.
An absolute (grounds) grilling
Laura Robyn reviews the Applicant’s intelligence arguments. -822/17, Weber-Stephen Products LLC v EUIPO, General Court, 17th October 2018.
No safe space for safe skies
Arguments on the window for evidence went unheeded, says Eleni Mezulanik. C-326/18 P, Safe Skies v EUIPO, CJEU, 4th October 2018.
Food for thought
Gavin Stenton serves up the details of the Examiner’s decision. O/682/18, @PIZZA (Application, Opposition), UK IPO, 31st October 2018.
Poor conduct costs dear
Sarah Williams describes why the Court felt it should lift the costs cap. [2018] EWHC 2728 (IPEC), Link Up Mitaka Ltd (t/a Thebigword) v Language Empire Ltd & Anor, IPEC, 17th October 2018.
Brexit
Read the latest updates on what the UK's withdrawal from the European Union means for intellectual property.
Draft SIs for implementing Brexit changes
The draft statutory instruments (SIs) to implement the necessary changes to legislation resulting from Brexit are available to read.
Brexit – what we know now
We have put together all the essential information we have on registered EU trade mark and design rights post-Brexit, which you might find helpful. The guidance compares the current ‘deal’ with no deal.
International IP registrations in the event of ‘no deal’ Brexit
International trade mark and design registrations that designate the EU will continue to cover the UK the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) has confirmed.
UK and EU "should establish a mechanism for cooperation" on IP
A “mechanism for cooperation” should be established between the UK and EU post-Brexit for trade marks, designs and patents a new document released by UK and EU negotiators reveals.