The UAE is a hotbed of educational institutions that spread across the seven emirates, especially Sharjah and Dubai. The country is home to both international and local educational institutions that enjoy an immense reputation among the citizens and residents. Branding is important in an educational hotspot like the UAE as people choose an institution solely based on brand reputation. Schools and other institutions in this respect are advised to protect their trademarks through trademark registration in the UAE.
An educational institution’s primary trademarks are typically its name and logo. The misuse of these valuable trademarks by others may potentially endanger its reputation. The registration of your institution’s brand name and logo as trademarks in the UAE is an important step in curbing the misuse. Trademark agents in Dubai can help you to register, protect and enforce your trademarks.
Here’s a list of vital aspects that every player in the education sector is required to know in terms of brand registration in the UAE.
A Safety Net for Brand Reputation
Performing trademark registration in the UAE enables an educational institution to safeguard its valuable reputation. It would empower the business owners to top the third party from using a similar trademark in connection with education and related services. For instance, if a person starts an online training institute in the UAE with a name similar to that of the GEMS group of schools, the latter can lodge an infringement case against the former.
However, if the school has not already registered their trademark, launching an infringement case would be tough. It would be tougher if the online training institute registers a confusingly similar trademark in the UAE before the well-known school brand. An identical or similar trademark would create confusion among the consumers, tarnishing the institution’s image. Trademark agents in Dubai, therefore, advise educational institutions to register their trademarks as early as possible.
Registered Trademarks Protect Products & Services
Typically, schools, colleges and universities provide educational services to the students charging a fee for such courses. However, many schools and colleges indulge in other streams of revenue such as manufacturing/supply of branded products such as stationery and uniforms. If such products are branded with the institution’s name, then they can protect through trademark registration in the UAE.
Protecting Brand for International Projects
Trademark protection will become crucial for schools and universities when they consider an international project. In such situations, protecting the trademarks at an early stage through registration will let the institutions control the use of their trademarks in relevant jurisdictions. Trademark agents in the UAE can help the institutions get their trademark registered in multiple jurisdictions such as the GCC countries or other Middle East jurisdictions like Egypt.
Prevention of Unauthorised Use of Brand
Performing trademark registration in the UAE helps educational institutions to legally prevent the unlicensed or unauthorised use of their brand names and logos. For example, if a school’s trademark is inappropriately used in connection with tobacco or alcohol products, it would severely hurt the institution’s brand image. A school whose trademarks are registered can approach the unlicensed users of its marks to cease using its marks. Consult with trademark agents in Dubai for advice on sending a Cease & Desist letter or to solve other trademark infringement issues.
A Major Trademark Issue Regarding Educational Brands
Schools and other educational institutions are often managed by different entities of a group company. Unfortunately, in most cases, brands are regarded in the names of different group entities. This leads to confusion related to issues such as multiplicity or owners making it tough to identify the actual holding entity of the brand. Trademark agents in Dubai recommend the registration of all trademarks under the name of a single entity and license it to group entities by drafting proper licensing agreements.
How can Jitendra Intellectual Property Help Educational Brands?
Across the world, branding is vital for schools and other educational institutions as reputation is key for their business growth. The UAE is a hub for major educational brands, which makes IP protection crucial for schools, colleges and universities. Through trademark registration in the UAE, educational institutions can effectively protect their name and other popular insignia from potentially problematic and unauthorised uses. However, the assistance of trademark agents in the UAE is required for foreigners to comply with the standard trademark procedures.
In terms of experience and expertise, Jitendra Intellectual Property (JIP) stands a step ahead of other IP firms in the UAE. JIP’s trademark agents in Dubai are highly qualified and possess experience in assisting clients from a wide range of industries. JIP offers quality services in terms of trademark registration, renewal and assistance in solving Intellectual Property disputes in the UAE. Consult with JIP to ensure the brands remain protected in the UAE as well as other GCC countries.