Good evening all,

Hope you're all well!

Hopefully somebody here would be able to advise me on the following...

Basically, after visiting a China Manufacturer recently I noticed a product which they had recently designed which has been done in a totally unique way from any of the current products in its category.

I really think this item would sell very well in the UK as its so different from the existing products I've seen (even after researching) and so I was wondering if there was any way I could protect its design here once I import and start selling?

I know I could ask the manufacturer if I could stick my brand on it and register that name as a trademark etc but would that just protect the name or the actual look and feel of the item too? The main problem is that I am not the original designer, as the manufacturer is, but with it being unique I would like some way to protect it if possible incase it did well and a big retailer decided to just create something with the same look.

Would I have to ask the Chinese manufacturer for sole distribution rights, or ask to buy the design rights etc or would this be worthless in the UK?

Finally, could I be protected in the UK just by being first to market with a brand that looks like that, which I really think I could be?

Again, even though the actual design was not originally done by me in China...

Hope this all makes sense and hope somebody knows the answer

Cheers all!

Lee

Just don't tell people which factory you got from