School’s starting soon, it’s a big part of your every year beginning. Whether you're heading to secondary school, college or university, it's a time for new experiences, new trends and, of course, new school supplies.
We're Arwen and Freya, and we're spending our work experience with the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) social media team. Today, we're taking over the IPO Blog to share what we've learned about intellectual property (IP) and uncover the protection behind the everyday items we use at school. What do pens, pencils, notebooks and backpacks have in common? They can all be protected by IP.
Get ready for school with us
One of the first things we make sure we get right for the new school year is our shoes. We need something comfortable enough to wear all day, whether we're in lessons, walking between classes or spending time with friends.
This year we both chose to go with Nike trainers. Nike uses trade marks to protect its brand, including protecting their name and iconic 'Swoosh' logo. Nike trade marks help customers recognise Nike products and identify the business they come from.
Next up is bags
Although we're both getting ready for the new school year, our choices for bags are very different. Freya's going for a Coach bag, while Arwen's go-to bag is a Vans backpack.
Coach is a well known luxury brand. While the sizes can be big or small, totes are the way to go during these times. It’s big and practical – perfect for carrying all of your back to school equipment. Coach has protected its logo and name with a trademark. Check out some of their trade marks: Coach’s Trade marks
Vans has built a strong and recognisable brand, protecting its identity through a portfolio of trade marks including its famous logo. These trade marks help customers identify genuine Vans products and distinguish them from other brands.
Trade marks can protect names, logos and slogans. They help businesses protect their brands and help customers recognise where products and services come from. Find out more about trade marks and how to apply: Register a trade mark : Overview - GOV.UK
Inside our pencil case
One of the most important things for life in education is your stationery. Our go-to stationery is Staedtler. The brand is known for its Norris pencils which are famously known as the black and yellow ones that many people across the UK will recognise from their classrooms and pencil cases.
The Noris name is protected by a trade mark, helping Staedtler protect its brand and making it easier for customers to identify genuine products.
Staedtler has also used registered designs to protect the appearance of some of its products. Design protection can cover the look of an item, helping businesses safeguard features that make their products distinctive.
The smart board that powers our lessons
One piece of technology that has become a common sight in classrooms is the smart board. These interactive displays allow teachers and students to write, draw and interact with digital content directly on the screen, helping to make lessons more engaging.
Technology like this is often protected by patents. A patent protects new inventions and gives the owner the right to stop others from making, using or selling the invention without permission
Our work experience at the IPO has shown us that intellectual property is everywhere — even in the classroom. Trade marks, designs and patents all play a part in protecting the products we rely on, helping businesses stay innovative and helping consumers trust what they buy. As we head into the new school year, we will think about the items in our bags that have more behind them than meets the eye.
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