SPRING 2016 ROUND-UP EURO 2016: trade right As the start of Euro 2016 football championship, on 10 June, approaches, businesses may be tempted to start promoting the tournament on their products or in their retail premises. But be warned, Uefa has registered many trademarks associated with the tournament and if you want to use these you will need to get permission from the governing body. By now, companies have agreed licensing contracts for items sold in Europe and the rest of the world. These cover a variety of items, from bed linen and replicas of the trophy to shopping bags, toys and lighters, to name but a few. ROUND-UP The following are some of the words and images for which trademarks have already been registered: l Uefa l Uefa European Football Championship l Euro 2016 l France 2016 l Mascot, Super Victor l Image of the trophy So, what may happen if you use these trademarks without permission? Uefa has legal representatives in the UK who could make a civil claim for compensation, or Trading Standards ocers could seize oending items and criminal action could be taken. Approved licensees pay considerable fees to Uefa to use its trademarks, so it is likely they will also undertake checks and alert local authority Trading Standards services to any infringements. Credit: Andrew Tandy Images: Kanuman / Shutterstock FIND OUT MORE Visit the Oce for Harmonization in the Internal Market to search for a European-wide trademark registration, and the Intellectual Property Oce to search the UK trademark database. For further information, contact your local Trading Standards service. AWARE OF CRIME? REPORT IT ANONYMOUSLY TO TRADING STANDARDS The level playing eld that nurtures and promotes economic growth and development for businesses, locally and nationally, is maintained by Trading Standards. It partly does this by providing advice and assistance to honest and legitimate traders who request guidance on legislation, and by assisting those traders who lose their way in the world of Trading Standards and need a little help to become compliant. Where businesses choose to trade outside the law and ignore the advice and guidance given, Trading Standards tackles them by using appropriate enforcement action. A lack of willingness and cooperation to comply with trading law and any engagement in criminal activity undermines and harms legitimate trade. This inevitably leads to honest businesses being disadvantaged and competing against traders who provide inferior goods and services. To survive, the honest business may be forced to lower its standards or its quality of product, leading to unsatised consumers. Left unchecked, this leads to a loss in consumer condence, and has resulted in certain trade sectors being mistrusted. By working with Trading Standards, legitimate businesses that believe their sector is being damaged and undermined by unscrupulous traders can now help focus and target Trading Standards resources, and reduce the harm being inicted upon their profession. Traders who believe their professions reputation is being harmed and undermined by illegitimate traders working outside the law can now report people engaged in such activities via the anonymous automated hotline 0300 303 2636 or by going online and using the online reporting system www.centsa.org.uk/anonymous-hotline Working together to rid professions of unlawful traders will result in better reputations for these sectors, and improve consumer condence and trust. This will, in turn, encourage growth in trade and economic development, both locally and nationally. Report foul play to create a level playing eld for all. Credit: Paul Gudger