THE door industry journal winter 2022 127 Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk Locks & Building Hardware Nor are the consequences of trademark misuse limited to manufacturers – they can also affect the locksmith. By supplying, knowingly or otherwise, locking systems that misuse trademarks, you are risking the potential of litigation, orders to remove misleading claims, and large fines. This is not to mention the reputational damage in the eyes of customers. The key is patent protection The only way to validate whether a cylinder system is safe from key copying is if it is subject to a current patent. When choosing one to supply, therefore, it is crucial to understand what the manufacturer’s key copy protection claims are, as well as their process for managing this. Ensuring that the basis of their protection is a valid patent and that this has not expired (patents can last up to 20 years from filing). It is also important to verify that the patent is valid in the country where the product will be used. Only when you have established these points will you be in a position to choose a system that provides the security that the project needs. Here at UNION, we have recently launched our new premium and comprehensive master key cylinder range, keyMASTER, which delivers a long-lasting patent life for maximum protection against key copying until 2036. Above all, remember that the only true protection against key copying is patent protection. As such, claims around so-called ‘trademark’ protection are often misleading and should be disregarded. Only when this point is widely understood will we be able to truly tackle the issue of key copying – and in the process make our buildings as secure as they need to be. To find out more about the new keyMASTER range or read the new Key copy protection report from UNION, visit www.uniononline.co.uk/uk/en.
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