Things to do this Twixtmas

Twixtmas is a time for rest and celebration, as we recover from Christmas and we look forward to the new year ahead. Most businesses will be closed (Two IP certainly is), so assuming that you do not plan on spending the entire time watching box sets in your PJs, we have put together a few suggestions of things you might like to do.

The Midlands

Christmas at the Castle

“Start a new tradition this year at Warwick Castle this Christmas as you enjoy a truly magical Stories with Santa, glide, spin and twirl upon our open-air ice rink and discover our brand-new dazzling light trail for 2023. You’ll also be enchanted by twinkling trees, dazzling decorations and festive flourishes at every turn and the delightful winter food & drink village. With all of this and more set across 64-acres of stunning grounds, you’re sure to feel the magic of Christmas at Warwick Castle.”

Planet Ice Coventry – 3 Day Learn to Skate Course (starts 27th December)

“The perfect Summer Holiday activity! Learn how to skate in just 3 or 5 days! Our lessons run for 30 minutes each morning over three or five consecutive days during the school holidays. You will then have access to the public skate session after to practice your skills you have learned.”

The Box of Delights – Royal Shakespeare Company, Stratford upon Avon

“A magically festive production for all the family in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre this winter. Orphaned schoolboy Kay Harker is caught up in a battle between two powerful magicians. Can he save Christmas? This production is based on the original stage production first produced by Wilton’s Music Hall and Hero Productions at Wilton’s Music Hall.”  Performances run until 7th January.

An array of festive pantomimes

This year we are spoilt for choice with a variety of pantomimes in the area for a day out of traditional family fun!

Jack and the Beanstalk at the Birmingham Hippodrome

Cinderella at the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the Royal & Derngate Theatre in Northampton

Jack and the Beanstalk at the Oxford Playhouse

London

Hyde Park Winter Wonderland

“Located in London’s iconic Hyde Park, Winter Wonderland is the world’s ultimate destination for festive fun. Running for six magical weeks from 17th November 2023 to 1st January 2024, Hyde Park Winter Wonderland offers a variety of attractions, activities, entertainment, food, drinks, and so much more.”

Christmas at Hampton Court Palace

“Get into the festive spirit at Hampton Court Palace this Christmas. Savour historic Tudor cookery, revel in festive tunes from the past, and see if you can spot courtiers and guards from the Tudor court as they roam Henry VIII’s famous palace.”

The Nutcracker at the Royal Opera House

“Discover the enchantment of ballet with this sparkling festive treat for the whole family.”

Hansel and Gretel at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre

“A beautifully epic new version of The Brothers Grimm’s fairy tale, Hansel and Gretel, by Poet Laureate Simon Armitage, transforms the Globe Theatre this winter.”

Ice Skating in London

There is an array of options if you would like to step onto the ice in London this Twixtmas,  Venues surrounded by iconic scenery include:

Somerset House

Battersea Power Station

Queen’s House Greenwich

Canary Wharf

Edinburgh

Christmas at the Botanics Light Trail

“Enjoy the Garden after dark and be captivated by awe-inspiring light installations and seasonal sounds which fill the air with festive fun.

Discover sparkling tunnels of light and dancing lakeside reflections, immerse yourself within bouncing lines of light in the Laser Garden, then walk under giant baubles and beneath glistening trees drenched in jewel-like colour.”

Scottish Ballet’s Cinders!, Festival Theatre

“A magical new Cinderella story from Scottish Ballet – this festive favourite returns for the winter season with a new name, glittering new designs, and a charming twist to the tale.

Scottish Ballet’s playful new production of Cinders will have a surprise in store each night for audiences as the curtain rises: on some nights, Cinders will be a woman, swept off her feet by her Prince, and on others, Cinders will be a man, swept off his feet by his Princess!

Choreographed by Christopher Hampson, with stunning art-nouveau-inspired set and costumes designed by Elin Steele, and Prokofiev’s irresistibly melodic score, performed live by the Scottish Ballet Orchestra, Cinders is everything you adore about the enchanted fairy tale – made sparkling, fresh and new.”

George Street Open Air Ice Rink

“Get your skates on and glide all the way up and down Edinburgh’s famous George St on the magnificent alpine ice rink, sponsored by Lidl GB, in partnership with Essential Edinburgh.”

A visit to The Dome, George Street

An Edinburgh Christmas institution, The Dome’s Christmas lights are spectacular, outside and in. Drop in for coffee in the Club Bar, afternoon tea in the Georgian Tea Room or (if you want to experience Christmas at the Dome’s over-the-top max) drinks in the Grill Room.

Torchlight Procession, 29th December

Join 20,000 people on the torchlight procession from The Meadows to the City Centre. Carry a flaming torch and enjoy the carnival atmosphere and music, and help raise money for homelessness charity Social Bite projects in Edinburgh and across Scotland. This is one of our favourite Twixtmas activities anywhere. Ever.

Unwrapping the IP in Christmas Jumpers

As the Christmas season sparkles with festive lights, the Christmas jumper takes centre stage on 7th December – Save the Children’s ‘Christmas Jumper Day’. Beyond the (often naff) designs and cozy knits, there’s a fascinating intersection between creativity and the law. We take a look at how copyright and trade marks play a crucial role in the designs of these jolly jumpers.

Copyright in Christmas Jumpers

Christmas jumpers are more than just seasonal fashion; they are canvases for creativity. Patterns, illustrations, and whimsical slogans are all expressions of artistic ingenuity, and are protected by copyright. This protection, however, doesn’t cover how the jumper is made but rather focuses on preserving the original and expressive elements that make the festive design special.

For creators, understanding the boundaries of copyright is important, and ensuring that your Christmas jumper design is original is essential – using someone else’s work on your jumper isn’t just lacking in Christmas spirit, it infringes that person’s copyright.

Trade Marks and Christmas Jumpers

Moving on from the traditional designs, in the realm of Christmas jumpers, trademarks now play a role beyond merely identifying the retailer that you buy the jumper from. Last year saw the launch of the Primark x Greggs Christmas jumper, replete with the Greggs logo and their iconic sausage rolls. This year, Primark has a Christmas jumper collaboration with Subway (the sandwich people) and, of course, the 2023 Christmas jumper scene wouldn’t be complete without a pink one from Barbie (in both Adult and mini-me sizing!).

Trademark protection isn’t limited to brand logos though. It can also extend to the distinctive look and feel of a Christmas jumper line, provided it has become synonymous with a specific brand. This legal safeguard not only preserves market share but also adds an extra layer of protection to a brand’s identity in the ever-evolving landscape of festive fashion.

So what is Christmas Jumper Day?

Christmas Jumper Day is an annual event by Save the Children, which raises funds for children in need. Launched in 2012, it has now become a Christmas tradition. Each December, countless individuals don their most festive sweaters, donate £2 to Save the Children, and contribute to creating a brighter future for children in the UK and worldwide.

Last year it raised a staggering £5 million, which included £2 million in matched funding from the UK government. Over 2 million school children and 24,000 workplaces took place, wearing their Christmas jumpers and raising money. This collective effort has made a significant impact on improving the lives of children. You can sign up here.

Merry Christmas, one and all!

As we eagerly anticipate the arrival of Christmas, the story behind Christmas jumpers unveils a captivating narrative of IP protection, fun and fundraising. Copyright and trademarks not only preserve the creative spirit behind each jumper but also contribute to a rich and diverse market. Beyond the legalities, they serve as guardians of the magic woven into every festive stitch, reminding us that the joy of the season is not just in the garments we wear but also in the creative minds that bring them to life, and the lives we can improve by wearing one.

Navigating the complexities of IP is not just for Christmas so if you need trademark or patent advice, get in touch here to speak with one of our experienced attorneys.

How to think differently – and find a better way of working

This time of year is often a period for reflection, particularly if you are already beginning to worry about your post-Christmas return to work and you’re thinking that maybe it is time to do something differently.
We have many conversations with patent and trade mark attorneys who are reflecting on what is important to them and who are looking for a better way of working. It can, though, be a challenge to work out what that might be.

In this blog, we share some of the questions we ask attorneys to help them think about what is important to them in life and in work – so they can start visualising what they want their future to look like.

If you want to start thinking differently about your career, then you might find these questions useful:

1. What is it about your work life that you don’t currently enjoy?
Do you find your billing targets and workload stressful? We know that that many attorneys do – the IP Inclusive and CIPA mental wellbeing report confirms this. Maybe you have had enough of the politics at work? Or maybe you’re spending too much time on managing others, rather than doing the work you love?

2. What do you want this change to enable you to do?
Is there something that you want to do that is driving you to consider a change? Perhaps it’s to do with your home life or maybe it’s a creative challenge that appeals to you? It might not be one single thing but a series of events or decision points that have led you to look for a different route.

3. What is important to you in your career?
What do you still want to achieve in your career? This might not be traditional goals such as partnership but might be about working with particular clients or solving emerging technical challenges.

4. What would your ideal working week look like?
What days would you work? What hours would you do each week? Where would you ideally work? These all make a difference to our quality of life and our ability to do things outside of work which are important to us.

5. What would you like to do more of outside of work?
It is easy to get trapped by the long hours and therefore sacrifice personal activities which bring us joy. If you did work fewer hours, how would you fill that additional time? What would you like to do more of if you had the chance?

6. What work would you like to do?
Experienced patent and trade mark attorneys can often find themselves not doing the work they really enjoy as over time that has been taken over by meetings, administration and training. What work would you prefer to be doing every day, if you could choose?

7. What do you want to earn?
Considering the life you want to lead, what would you realistically like to earn? If you’re not sure where to start with this, then play with our lifestyle calculator – you can test out some different scenarios of how many hours you want to work and what your income could be.

At Two IP we help attorneys live the life they want to live and do the work they love.

If working through these questions has identified that you are ready for a change but still want to be a successful patent and trade mark attorney, you can find out more about the better way of working that we have developed at Two IP here.