What is the purpose or usefulness of series applications?
Under the Trade Marks Act 1995, you can apply for two or more trade marks that that closely resemble each other on one application. This gives you the option of covering different variations of your trade mark without having to submit separate applications for each variation. However, not all trade marks that closely resemble each other will qualify as a series. There are substantial restrictions on the type of trade mark variations that can form a valid series. Q. What constitutes a valid series application? Firstly, trade marks in a series must closely resemble each other. Secondly, the trade marks must differ only in one or more of the following ways: • statements or representations as to the goods or services being claimed; • statements or representations as to the number, price, quality or names of places; • the colour of any part of the trade mark. With these substantial restrictions on what sort of trade marks can form a valid series and additional costs involved in filing a ser
