Can Specsavers really trademark a verb?

Intellectual Patent Office approves optician chain's application to have sole use of word "should've" in adverts

Specsavers
(Image credit: Getty Images)

"Specsavers' rivals should've seen this… coming," jokes a headline in the Daily Telegraph.

For marketers, however, the story on is no laughing matter as they're set to be banned from using the common contracted verb "should've" in any adverts.

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