Send Factor

A trademark refers to any word , symbol or letters or a combination of these that is used to mark the product so as to distinguish it from the product of another producer. The trademark is useful to make the public aware of the producer or the source of the product. Trademarks play a significant role in product marketing and thus there are certain rules laid down for the registration of trademarks. Every country or nation has a set of rules governing the registration of trademarks. India also has laid down a set of laws governing the registration of trademarks. For trademarks registeration in India the owner has to file an application in writing with the Registrar of Trade Marks in the required format.

Different states of India have their own particular offices wherein one can file the application for trademark registration . For instance for trademarks registration in Chennai , one has to file the application as per the prescribed format and make the payment of the fees either by cash, bank draft , money order or postal order favouring “Deputy Registrar of Trade marks”, Chennai. For any other information related to the registration of trademarks in Chennai the Deputy Registrar of Trademarks at the Trade Marks Registry in Rajaji Bhavan , Chennai may be contacted.

How to file trademark application in India
The Trade Marks Act, 1999 governs all the matters related to trademarks and holds good throughout India. By registering a particular trademark the person gets exclusive rights for its use. Although it is not compulsory by law to register a trademark , registering the trademark provides legal protection to it.

The trademark offices in India are situated at five places namely , Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Kolkota, Delhi and Chennai. For the registration of a trademark, the application must be filed in Form TM-1 in any of the five offices of the Trademarks Registry within whose jurisdiction the business office would fall. A fee of Rs. 2500/- must accompany the application form. The application is then processed to check if the trademark is unique and not one that is already registered. If found valid then the next step would involve the publishing of the trademark in the Trade Marks Journal allowing others a chance to raise objection, if any. If it is found that there is no objection from anybody then it is registered as a valid trademark and a certificate is duly issued. In case of any objection and the application rejected by the authority the applicant has a chance for appeal to the Intellectual Property Appellate Board.

The general term for which a trademark is registered is for 10 years after which it has to be renewed . One can renew it for another 10 years after the expiry of the first 10 years. In case a registered trademark is not renewed then it is deleted from the register of trademarks.

Registering a trademark although not compulsory as per the law , is beneficial due to the legal protection that it offers.

Stress at Work in the UK

At Claims Master Group we understand the unhappiness, depression ill health and stress which can be brought on by bad working conditions & unfair working practices. In many cases, there are good grounds for claiming compensation for stress at work

For example:

Unrealistic service levels or deadlines at work causing stress and depression

The rise in sexual discrimination can lead to stress and depression at work

An unclean work environment stress and depression at work

The fear of continual racist abuse causing stress and depression at work

Not allowing necessary breaks from work can often cause stress and depression at work

Employees who become depressed at work through stress, they deserve to claim compensation

What is stress?

HSE defines stress as “the adverse reaction people have to excessive pressure or other types of demand placed on them”. Pressure is part and parcel of all work and helps to keep us motivated . But excessive pressure can lead to stress which undermines performance, is costly to employers and can make people ill.

Why do we need to tackle stress?

· about half a million people in the UK experience work-related stress at a level they believe is making them ill;

· up to 5 million people in the UK feel “very” or “extremely” stressed by their work; and

· a total of 12.8 million working days were lost to stress, depression and anxiety in 2004/5.

Employers should look at:

· developing appropriate and effective policy

· organising a risk assessment and benchmarking exercise

· developing appropriate training for managers and staff

· developing support structures and services as needed

Bullying at work can be grounds for compensation

There are many more causes of employee stress and depression at work.

However there is some good news. You could be entitled to reasonable compensation if you are suffering stress and depression at work or have been forced to resign from work because of undue stress which has led to depression.

*********************************************************************

If you need advice or would just like to speak to someone, please don’t hesitate to give Claims Master Group a call on 08000 71 22 71.

The Personal Injury, Accident Claim, No Win No Fee, Stress at work in the UK specialists.

How to avoid identity theft is one topic that anyone who makes any kind of financial transaction ? big or small – should be knowledgeable about. Your credit cards are often the grounds of identity theft. But since it is almost impossible not to have credit cards these days, heed the following tips instead to avoid becoming a victim of identity theft.

* One way to avoid identity theft is to never leave your credit card receipts at the ATM or gas station. This is a mistake that is easily and carelessly made by a lot of poeple. If you want to learn how to avoid identity theft, then you should know that the most experienced thieves might be able to use information contained in these receipts to make fraudulent transactions in your name. File all your documents properly! If you don’t want to keep your receipts, then destroy them properly before discarding them as a way to avoid identity theft.

* Did you know that 30% of identity theft cases are committed by someone you know? This is what the Federal Bureau of Investigation found out based on identity theft reports made to them. So another way to avoid identity theft is to NOT divulge personal information to a friend or co-worker that could be used without your knowledge and authorization.

* Sometimes, even the most secure of bank mailing lists can be the source of identity theft so opt out of these. Besides, the bank registry office is a good way of obtaining the information you might need anyway and that does not expose you to identity theft.

* Next, be very careful about where you place your bank account number or your security card number. You do not want to write this information down in your wallet because it could get stolen or place it on a check where anyone could have access to it. Don’t make it easy for identity thieves to steal your identity!

* Another way of avoiding identity theft is to never apply for credit cards over the Internet since it is much more secure if you go to the bank directly and apply for it there. Even spam email messages can be a source so delete these immediately from your Inbox.

* Another way to avoid identity theft is to never give out information over the phone and do not write down any passwords or PIN codes in places that could be accessed and seen by anyone. It is much better to remember these and use them only when necessary.

* Get a copy of your credit report. Your report will show all existing bank accounts, loans, and your financial transactions so it is wise to get a copy and scrutinize it. If you see anything out of the ordinary, take action right away!

Credit cards are handy tools in our day-to-day lives. Just ensure that you take the necessary precautions so they cannot be used as tools against you.