Cayman Trade Mark Spotlight: Cayman National Corporation Ltd.

HSM IP is a specialist intellectual property law practice based in the Cayman Islands and protects creative works (trade marks, patents, copyright, designs and domain names) throughout the Caribbean and Latin America.

Kate Cleary, an Intellectual Property Manager at HSM IP, reached out to Joel Chadha (Senior Legal Counsel) and Ian Whan Tong (Group Legal Counsel) at Cayman National Corporation Ltd. (“Cayman National”) to discuss their experience of registering their trade marks in the Cayman Islands.

Cayman National was established in 1974 and is a leading financial services company based in the Cayman Islands.

Why is registering your trade mark(s) important to you as a financial institution?
Cayman National: Registering our trade marks is crucial as it protects our brand identity, ensuring exclusive rights to use our name, logo, and other branding elements. For example, if an attempt is made to spoof our website or misuse our identity, a registered trade mark allows us to take swift legal action and makes it easier to request takedowns (from search engines, web hosting providers and social media platforms etc.) of counterfeit sites, which safeguards our reputation and, ultimately, our customers. This helps in building trust with our clients, maintaining our good reputation, and safeguards against unauthorized use that could confuse customers or damage our brand.

Can you describe the significance or meaning behind the trade mark(s)?
Cayman National: The Cayman National Brandmark represents our unified organisation. The Brandmark consists of three elements: shield icon, signature and the subsidiary subline. The Shield is a graphical representation of Cayman National. It contains references to island life and specifically the three Cayman Islands. It also embodies stability and progress. The signature comprises the two words Cayman National. The subsidiary subline shows that we are part of the Republic Financial Holdings Limited family,

HSM IP: From a design perspective, Cayman National pays homage in its logo to the three Cayman Islands: Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. This helps to create a unique distinction.

How did you find the process of registering your trade mark(s)?
Cayman National: The process was straightforward but required careful attention to detail. Working with legal experts in the intellectual property field such as HSM helps us navigate the formalities efficiently, ensuring that our trade marks are registered correctly and thereby providing comprehensive protection for our brand.

HSM IP: We are proud to have worked with Cayman National for over 10 years. Before 2017, Cayman’s Trade Marks legislation required applications to be processed through the United Kingdom or European Union before being extended to the Cayman Islands and we have assisted Cayman National with its registrations not only directly in Cayman Islands (post-2017), but also at the UK Intellectual Property Office.

What would you say to other businesses who are thinking about registering their trade mark(s)?
Cayman National: Registering a trade mark is essential for protecting a brand’s identity and reputation. It not only secures exclusive rights but also adds value to a business. Acting early, consulting with legal professionals, and ensuring brand protection are critical steps for businesses as they grow.

HSM IP proudly assists local Cayman Islands businesses in securing their intellectual property assets, which can be vital to driving loyalty and maintaining a competitive advantage in an often-crowded marketplace. We are committed to securing intellectual property registrations for our clients, to ensure their unique ideas and creations are suitably protected.