As someone who loves discovering unusual places to stay around the UK, this week’s episode was right up my street. Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden, Steven Bartlett, Touker Suleyman and Gary Neville were in the Den, ready to decide which entrepreneurs would receive a warm welcome and who would be checking out without an investment.
Checking in with Kip Hideaways
Sarah de Vere-Drummond entered the Den seeking £90k in return for 5% of Kip Hideaways, a platform offering a carefully curated collection of special places to stay around the UK. Rather than listing every available holiday property, Kip Hideaways aims to select hidden gems that meet its high standards, with properties being vetted before being added to the platform.
Kip’s trusted recommendations, membership proposition and relationships with property owners are key ingredients in building customer loyalty. But in a busy holiday accommodation market, could Kip Hideaways make its mark and stand out from the competition?
Making its mark
Kip Hideaways has applied to register KIP HIDEAWAYS as a UK trade mark for services in Classes 39 and 43. Trade marks are grouped into 45 internationally recognised classes according to the goods or services for which protection is being sought. Classes 1 to 34 generally cover goods, while Classes 35 to 45 cover services. Applicants must choose the classes that are relevant to their business and specify the goods or services they want their trade mark registration to cover.
Class 39 includes services connected with travel arrangements, reservations and travel information. Where as Class 43 includes services such as providing and booking temporary or holiday accommodation. These classes reflect important parts of the service offered by Kip Hideaways.
After the IPO examines a trade mark application, an application with no outstanding objections is published in the trade marks journal. Publication provides an opportunity for other parties to oppose its registration. An opposition may, for example, be based on an earlier trade mark or a claim that registration would conflict with existing rights.
If an application is opposed, the parties may try to resolve the dispute between themselves, the applicant may withdraw the application, or the applicant may defend it through formal proceedings.
An opposition does not, by itself, determine the final outcome. However, while the opposition remains unresolved, the trade mark cannot be registered for the relevant classes or terms, nor should it be described as a registered trade mark. Find out more about what happens after a trade mark application is submitted.
A picture is worth a thousand bookings
Although copyright does not protect the underlying idea of creating a curated holiday platform, it may protect much of the original creative content that brings Kip Hideaways and its selection of properties to life. Enticing photographs can help transport prospective customers from their sofa to a secluded cabin, cosy cottage or countryside retreat.
Original photographs may qualify for copyright protection, as may original descriptions written to showcase the character of each property. Original website content, software and databases may also receive copyright protection.
Copyright protection is automatic in the UK, which means there is no application process, fee or official register of copyright works. It allows copyright owners to control certain uses of their work, including copying it or placing it online.
There is an important practical point for online businesses. The copyright owner may be the photographer, writer or software developer who created the work, rather than the business displaying it. Businesses should therefore understand which content they own and which content they have permission to use.
Written agreements can help establish who owns the copyright and how photographs, descriptions and other creative content may be used. These might give a business permission to use the work or transfer ownership of the copyright to the business. Find out more about how copyright protects your work.
Three Dragons check in
The Dragons questioned Sarah about the strength of the Kip Hideaways offer and the competition it faced, resulting in both Deborah and Steven opting out of any deal.
However, Touker offered Sarah £45k for 15% of the business, with Gary matching his offer. Peter then proposed a joint investment between all three Dragons, which led to Sarah accepting £90k in return for 30% of Kip Hideaways. Sarah left the Den delighted to have three Dragons checking in for the journey ahead.
Farewell, Touker
This episode also marked the end of an era, as Touker Suleyman placed his notebook down for the final time after 11 years in the Den. Whether delivering firm advice, spotting an opportunity or backing an entrepreneur he believed in, Touker has made a lasting impression on the Den and its viewers. We wish him all the best and he will certainly be missed!
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Disclaimer:
The purpose of the IPO's Dragons' Den IP blog is to help identify the IP in entrepreneurs’ pitches and highlight how IP works, or could work, in the real-life examples featured. IPO’s authorship of this blog does not constitute its endorsement or sponsorship of any products, individuals or businesses referenced within it.
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