HSM IP LTD
Lexology Index Recommends Huw Moses in IP Trademarks 2025 Guide
Lexology Index (formerly Who’s Who Legal) has featured Huw Moses as a notable Intellectual Property expert in their recently released 2025 Trademarks Guide. Lexology Index says: Clients praise Huw Moses’ “complete knowledge of trademark law, legal excellence and responsiveness” and further Read more +
Bermuda’s Revamped Trade Marks Law Takes Effect on 1 August 2025
The Government of Bermuda has announced that the enactment of the Trade Marks Amendment Act 2025 (the “Amendment Act”), originally scheduled for 1 July 2025, has been pushed back, and has been enacted as of 1 August 2025. The Amendment Read more +
HSM Welcomes Four Interns to 2025 Summer Internship Programme
The HSM Group is proud to continue its summer internship programme with four young professionals: Jayden Nembhard, Shannell Stewart, Azaria Ruiz‑Bodden and Ahmoya Morrison. These individuals were a part of the 2024-25 CIFEC internship curriculum, which began in October 2024 through Read more +
Cayman Trade Mark Spotlight: The Security Centre
Kate Cleary, an Intellectual Property Manager at HSM IP, reached out to The Security Centre to get its feedback on registering their trade mark in the Cayman Islands. Kate spoke with Natasha Whitelocke (Director – Admin, Compliance & Regulatory Affairs) Read more +
Empowering Creativity: How Cayman Island’s New IP Rules Will Support Domestic Entrepreneurs!
Good news for Caymanian brand owners! On 20 August 2024, the Cayman Islands Government announced its decision to amend the Trade Marks Act, 2016, and the Trade Mark Regulations, 2017, with the aim of making it more convenient and accessible for domestic entrepreneurs and creative individuals to protect their intellectual property.
This initiative is a positive step toward creating a more supportive regulatory environment, particularly for Micro[1] and Small Business[2] (MSB) owners. By making the process more affordable and user-friendly, the amendments are expected to encourage greater investment in and protection of invaluable intellectual property assets. The highlights being:
- Registration of IP without a registered agent: The existing act mandates all individuals and enterprises to seek assistance from an agent registered with the Cayman Islands Intellectual Property Office (CIIPO) to make any official submissions. The upcoming amendment will no longer require that they appoint a registered agent to file IP documents at the CIIPO. However, they can still choose to use an agent such as HSM IP to alleviate the administration burden and guide them through the process.
Waiver of Official Fees:
- Annual Fee: Under the current laws, all registered trade mark holders are required to pay an annual fee of CI$200 to maintain their trade mark rights and ensure they remain in good standing. It is anticipated more fees will be waived for Micro & Small Businesses.
As a prominent advocate and supporter of local enterprise, Huw Moses, Managing Partner of HSM IP, welcomes this proposal by Deputy Premier and Minister of Financial Services and Commerce, the Hon. André Ebanks MP for making intellectual property more convenient and accessible to all.
Huw is an appointed member of the Intellectual Property Working Group (IPWG), which assists the Cayman Islands Government with intellectual property guidance. HSM IP will be actively monitoring this legislative change and will be updating our clients accordingly.
[1] ‘Micro businesses’ are those that, among other conditions, employ up to four employees (excluding the owner), and have an annual gross revenue not exceeding CI$250,000 in the preceding fiscal year.
[2] Small businesses are those that, among other conditions, employ up to 12 employees (excluding the owner), and have an annual gross revenue not exceeding CI$750,000 in the preceding fiscal year.