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?
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.
For the IP profession:
CITMA blog
Read fascinating and entertaining insight into intellectual property.
How to secure the IP of your food and drink brand
The food and drink sector is a thriving busy marketplace, to help new entrants to this vibrant space we have put together a start to finish guide on the stages of securing IP for a new product – what you can protect and how.
The legal tightrope of brand mimicry by discount supermarkets
Discount supermarkets often sail close to the wind – what do recent trade mark disputes tell us about what is acceptable?
Food and drink brands: How descriptive is too descriptive?
Businesses sometimes look to adopt descriptive or generic terms for their new brand names in order to avoid infringing existing trade mark rights owned by others – however, this isn’t a risk-free approach.
Genericide: The Kryptonite of a successful brand
How Marvel and DC lost their US trade marks for "superhero".
Upcoming events
Earn CPD and network with the IP profession at our events.
Case comments
Read analysis from recent trade mark cases.
Take two
There can be good reason to argue dual grounds, suggests Maya Muchemwa. O/1030/24, Baraqah Ltd v G & G Srl, UK IPO.
Who’s the boss?
Impressive evidence established the answer, writes Julia King. O/1028/24, Gym Boss Ltd v Hugo Boss Trade Mark Management GmbH & Co KG, UK IPO.
On the straight and narrow
The UK’s highest court brought closure to a persistent conflict, reports Antony Yerasimou. [2024] UKSC 36, SkyKick UK Ltd and another v Sky Ltd and others, Supreme Court.
Pet insurers put up a fight
Sarah Neil summarises a case that gives ‘paws’ for thought. [2024] EWCA Civ 1103, TVIS Ltd v Howserv Services Ltd and others, Court of Appeal.
News
Read the latest news and features.
Spring Conference 2025 – day two
Our delegates reconvened at the world-renowned Waldorf Hilton to resume networking and learning together – they were treated to a dive into reviving legacy brands as well as an update on copyright.
Spring Conference 2025 - day one
We created a new song, and came together to learn, grow and connect with some 200 IP professionals at our Spring Conference.
Your guide to earning CITMA Paralegal CPD in 2025
Discover how to make every CPD hour count with our practical guide to earning, recording, and leveraging your development activities.
The Conference Personality
Following the recent launch of our 2025 Paralegal Conference, we hear from one highly experienced CITMA Paralegal on how you can combat ‘networking nerves’.