Do you have a question about patents, trade marks or designs?

Two attorneys discussing a case

To ask a question please email us at franksco@franksco.com or use our customer enquiry form and we will aim to get back to you within 24 hours.

Answers to commonly asked questions can be found in this section.

Experts in Ask an expert
Robert Franks patent and trade mark attorney
Robert B Franks

Chartered & European Patent Attorney and Chartered Trade Mark Attorney
E : robert.franks@franksco.com
T : +44 (0)114 249 9888

Robert B Franks - Chartered & European Patent Attorney and Chartered Trade Mark Attorney
Abigail Welford
Abigail Welford

Chartered & European Patent Attorney and Chartered Trade Mark Attorney
E : abigail.welford@franksco.com
T : +44 (0)114 249 9888

Abigail Welford - Chartered & European Patent Attorney and Chartered Trade Mark Attorney
Jon Banford Patent and Trade Mark Attorney
Jon Banford

Chartered & European Patent Attorney and Chartered Trade Mark Attorney
E : jon.banford@franksco.com
T : +44 (0)1604 632 436

Jon Banford - Chartered & European Patent Attorney and Chartered Trade Mark Attorney
Abdul Lawal patent and trade mark attorney
Abdulmalik Lawal

Chartered Patent & Trade Mark Attorney and European Patent Attorney
E : abdulmalik.lawal@franksco.com
T : +44 (0)114 249 9888

Abdulmalik Lawal - Chartered Patent & Trade Mark Attorney and European Patent Attorney
Luke Franks
Luke Franks

Patent and Trade Mark Representative
E : luke.franks@franksco.com
T : +44(0) 114 2499 888

Luke Franks - Patent and Trade Mark Representative
Haroon Khan

Patent and Trade Mark Representative
E : haroon.khan@franksco.com
T : +44(0) 114 2499 888

Haroon Khan - Patent and Trade Mark Representative
Speeding up UK patent applications
Speeding up UK patent applications

The statutory maximum timescale for prosecuting a UK patent application...

Speeding up UK patent applications
Trade mark documents
The trade mark symbol

Which trademark symbol to use, when, and how.

The trade mark symbol
Coloured jackets hanging on a rail
What is a Community Registered Design CRD

Community Registered Designs are obtained by making an application to...

What is a Community Registered Design (CRD)
European Patent Office Logo
What is a European Patent?

European patents are granted by the European Patent Office (EPO). The...

What is a European Patent?
What is a European Trade Mark EUTM?

Trade mark applications covering the whole of the European Community are...

What is a European Trade Mark (EUTM)?
United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office
Can a patent be restored after renewal payments are missed?

To maintain UK patents after grant, payment of an annual renewal fee to...

Can a patent be restored after renewal payments are missed?
Intellectual Property Solicitors
Intellectual Property Solicitors

What is an Intellectual Property Solicitor and what do they do?

Intellectual Property Solicitors
Example of a patent drawing
Use of Reference Numerals in Patent Specifications

Patent specifications disclose inventions to the public and usually...

Use of Reference Numerals in Patent Specifications
world flags
Claim amendments during PCT application procedure

International patent applications under the Patent Cooperation Treaty...

Claim amendments during PCT application procedure
Licence as of right
Licence as of right

The UK Patent Office has a database of patents that are endorsed...

Licence as of right
British and EU stars over map of Europe
What are the implications of Brexit on IP rights

On Thursday June 23, 2016 the voting public of the United Kingdom made...

What are the implications of Brexit on IP rights?
Patent label
Excess claim and page fees

Excess claims and page fees are now payable at both the European Patent...

Excess claim and page fees
Coat of Arms of the College of Arms
Legal protection for coats of arms

Could a 500-year-old law affect your trade mark? Usually, the go-to...

Legal protection for coats of arms
Picture of the UKIPO building
Trade mark notice of threatened oppposition TM7A

What do you need to do if you have filed a trade mark application at the...

Trade mark notice of threatened oppposition - TM7A
Gavel on stack of papers
UK Trade Mark Invalidation

What course of action to take when your trade mark is opposed.

Trade Mark Invalidation in the UK
EU Flag
Early Requests for Unitary Patent

The European Patent Office (EPO) is now accepting early designations of...

Early Requests for Unitary Patent
The importance of a UK address for service
The importance of a UK address for service

Following a recent Tribunal Practice Notice issued by the UKIPO, Dr....

The importance of a UK address for service.
United states patent and trademark office logo
Understanding the USPTO’s New Trademark Fee Structure

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has recently...

Understanding the USPTO’s New Trademark Fee Structure
A head and shoulders photo of Robert Franks, Chartered & European Patent Attorney at Franks & Co
What happens when my patent expires?

When your patent expires it means that others are free to use your...

What happens when my patent expires?
Which countries are in the unitary patent system?

The countries covered by the Unitary Patent, are the same as those...

Which countries are in the unitary patent system?