Trade marks have a unique ability in intellectual property – they can last forever. While patents and designs eventually expire, a trade mark can live for decades and beyond, providing it is properly looked after.
As the UK Intellectual Property Office marks 150 years since the first registered trade mark, this is the perfect moment to celebrate some iconic trade marks that have stood the test of time.
Why can trade marks last so long?
As long as they are renewed, trade marks have no ‘end date’; unlike patents (which can last up to 20 years) and registered designs (up to 25 years), a well-cared-for trade mark can be renewed indefinitely. That’s good news for companies with long-term aspirations, as it means that as their brands endure, their trade marks do, too.
Forresters is proud to look after a portfolio of long‑standing trade marks whose histories stretch back decades – in some cases, even to the earliest days of the UK trade mark system itself. Today, we’re taking a look at four iconic trade marks, each over 100 years old, that we are privileged to look after. Each one is a testament to how trade marks can survive and thrive, year on year.
Worthington
We have a long history here at Forresters, having been founded in 1884. We also happen to look after a trade mark registered that very same year: WORTHINGTON (UK00000040477), a mark carrying the rich heritage of Worthington pumps, named after the inventor of the world’s first direct-acting steam pump, Henry R. Worthington. After creating his ground-breaking invention in 1840, he co-founded Worthington and Baker in 1845, a manufacturer of hydraulic machinery.
Our client, Flowserve, acquired the company (then called the Worthington Corporation) in 2000, and has taken steps to maintain the widely recognised Worthington brand since then, including renewing the original trade mark up to the present day.
Lyons Instant Coffee
Founded in 1887 by four Victorian entrepreneurs, the Lyons instant coffee brand is a British institution. No strangers to innovation, Lyons opened the UK’s first purpose-built food technology laboratory in 1928, but were safeguarding their identity long before then, having registered a trade mark (UK0000293187D) for the LYONS’ brand in 1907 in class 30.
Forresters now works with the current owner of the trade mark, Source4 Trading Limited, to protect the integrity and value of the Lyons brand. Since that original trade mark application in 1907, related trade marks have been registered in several other jurisdictions. The Lyons brand remains in use today and is a trusted, household name in instant coffee.
Manuscript Pen Company
A well-respected name in calligraphy and modern fine writing implements, Manuscript Pen Company is the owner of one of the UK’s oldest trade marks. Filed on 28 February 1876 – just over a month after the first ever UK trade mark was submitted – their iconic D Leonardt & Co. / crown logo (UK00000002794), echoing the company’s founding in 1856, can still be seen in Manuscript’s logo and across their instantly recognisable branding.
Forresters is honoured to maintain a strong relationship with Manuscript Pen Company, having assisted them with the maintenance of their oldest trade marks, and with a number of newer brands, over the years.
Huntley & Palmers
Sharing the top spot with Manuscript, a trade mark for HUNTLEY & PALMERS SUPERIOR READING BISCUITS (UK00000002713) is the oldest trade mark managed by Forresters. One of Britain’s longest-established food companies, the Huntley & Palmers brand endures to this day, and their highly-recognisable products are fondly remembered by generations of the British public.
Despite the original Huntley & Palmers company ceasing operations in 1970, the trade mark remained; the brand was revived in 2006, and was acquired by our client, Freemans Confectionery Supplies in 2008. This trade mark proves that although companies may change, and even cease trading altogether, their beloved brands can persist through the years and even make a well-deserved comeback.
A legacy to be proud of
Trade marks are living assets that grow, adapt, and endure. As the UKIPO celebrates 150 years of trade mark protection, the stories behind the marks we manage show just how powerful and long‑lasting these rights can be. With the right guidance and consistent care, a trade mark can outlast products, trends, and even generations, becoming a permanent part of our cultural identity.
We’re proud to help safeguard these iconic brands and ensure they continue to thrive for decades to come.
