Guidelines For Brand Lookalikes

The Department of Trade and Industry has been examining how the government should deal with the issue of supermarket lookalike products. It has been asking brand manufacturers if they believe protection for brand names against lookalikes should be included as an amendment to the trademarks bill or whether new legislation on fair trading would be more appropriate.

The current trademarks bill refers only to the name and logo while an amendment would clarify the definition of trademarks to include the shape, design and overall packaging of a brand. An amendment has been put forward by Labour MP Hugh Bayley and will go to the committee tomorrow.