Or should you publish mainly on your own website or blog? In today’s digital age, LinkedIn isn’t just a professional
Hello legal professionals and legal tech enthusiasts! Alongside an exciting upcoming podcast episode on AI for law firm efficiency and
These top legal technologist specialists, leaders and heroes in the UK are redefining what it means to practise law, and
In what will hopefully be an extension of our AI for Law Firms series, at the weekend I tried to
In the fascinating world of AI in the legal sector and AI-generated content, a peculiar trend has emerged: the unyielding
Generative AI and the Legal Industry: Q&A with Expert Owen Morris, Operations Director at Doherty Associates. Owen has been on the
A certain English teacher, Sandra MacCallum, at Kyle Academy once taught that, sometimes, “you’ve got to put your foot into the icy water”. Don’t be afraid to come to powerful conclusions.
If you take one thing away from this, it should be this practical but general word of advice:
If your business and its model are analogous to another successful and well-protected business and if your brand name is unique, not in the dictionary, not an industry word and not confusingly similar to another business, then take inspiration from the trade mark applications of that other successful business, but do consider every application on its own merits; and
If you are in any doubt about trade mark registrability, research further or seek professional advice from a lawyer, brand protector or trade mark agent. In WardblawG’s experience, trade mark agents are most useful when registrability of your brand as a trade mark is clearly problematic, when you need to overcome objections or field queries from an examiner, or when you have a large portfolio of trade marks to register and maintain.
WardblawG supports the ECtHR move in its entirety and wishes Ms Allison Walls the best of luck. May Justitia swing her sword in her favour.
Good news! I have been charged only £5.00 for going 70p into the red. Perhaps fair because the bank was paying its own cash to cover the unauthorised overdraft.
Comment
In the author’s personal opinion, it is time for the courts and, perhaps, government to stop sitting on the fence with legal argument that lends itself to squeaky clean judges’ desks. It is quite clear that the public has noted its concern. They realise, (or at least should realise by now!), that banks are businesses unlike any other. And, while the banks might enjoy the benefits of having large capital reserves, somewhat questionable following the recession, the Scottish and, indeed, the British public expect them to be treated as such in the legal systems of the UK. This effective immunity from suit should seriously be reconsidered and, the author hopes, soon.
How to Claim despite Walls being breached
Consumers may be best advised to take the recent shock wave of Allison Walls v Santander with a pinch of salt: there are certain steps, including those from moneysavingexpert.com, which are still worth considering:-
1. Send a style letter and send to the bank;
2. If unsuccessful and the bank continues to charge, send a different style letter to the Financial Ombudsman;
3. If still unsuccessful, consult a reputable solicitor and take the bank to court, but be prepared for considerable legal expenses and long, drawn out proceedings.
Banks would be best advised not to get complacent: a battle may have been won; but the war, most certainly, is not over.