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?
Learn why trade marks are valuable business assets.
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.
What has happened to your EU trade marks?
If you owned an EU trade mark at the end of 2020 you now also own an identical UK one, created automatically and for free – we explore what businesses need to know.
Trade marks at Christmas
You may be surprised to know that some companies own trade marks for some well-known Christmas phrases, we explore some of the more famous examples.
The story of Santa and Coca-Cola
Learn about the history of Santa and be inspired about Coca-Cola’s bold move to adopt him for its marketing campaign.
Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas IP…
Can a Christmas tree be protected as a trade mark? We take a festive look at the intellectual property found in tree shapes.
Upcoming events
Earn CPD and network with the IP profession at our events.
Case comments
Read analysis from recent trade mark cases.
Grey area gains ground
Adrian Dykes fills us in on why the idea of descriptiveness was not quite black and white. T-133/19, Off-White LLC v EUIPO, General Court, 25th June 2020
A view to TKIL
Emily Scott outlines a decision that got decidedly personal. [2020] EWHC 2078 (Ch), Turbo-K Ltd v Turbo-K International Ltd & Others, High Court, 5th August 2020
Door closes on butler mark
Presumption of patronage was the problem, reports Robecca Davey. O/404/20, Grant Harrold v The Lord Chamberlain, UK IPO, 24th August 2020
Karma confusion
The consumer would see the connection, explains Gavin Stenton. O/442/20, KARMA (Opposition), UK IPO, 11th September 2020
Brexit
Read the latest updates on what the UK's withdrawal from the European Union means for intellectual property.
Exhaustion is main post-Brexit “question mark”
Intellectual Property Magazine’s Brexit podcast panel, including Richard Goddard, returned to discuss future issues for IP following Brexit.
EU trade marks recreated in the UK
More than two million trade marks and designs registered at the EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) have been recreated in the UK ensuring continuation of protection.
Post-transition UK IPO practice
Details of the impact new legislation has on practice before the UK IPO has been published. The legal changes come into force on 1st January 2021.
IPReg clarifies use of European titles
The Intellectual Property Regulation Board (IPReg) has confirmed that titles including the term ‘European’ can be used by UK attorneys post-Brexit, but the announcement came with an important caveat.