No. A trademark won’t stop deepfakes or scams using your name from being made, and anyone who tells you it will is overselling. What it does is give you a right that platforms act on, so fakes come down faster, and paired with trademark monitoring you find them while they’re small.
A determined fraudster doesn’t check the register before making a fake advert. Martin Lewis took Facebook to court in 2018 over thousands of scam adverts using his name and picture, and fakes of him still appear.
If a trademark won’t stop deepfakes, what does it do?
It changes what happens next. Platforms, marketplaces and domain registrars all have processes for removing content that infringes a registered trademark. Most start by asking for the registration number. Without one, you’re relying on an impersonation report or a complaint about your reputation. Both are slower and easier to turn down. With one, “please remove this” becomes “this infringes my registered right”.
That usually means fakes come down faster and more cheaply, and it’s usually the difference between a letter and a court case. See how our website takedown service uses it.
Why monitoring matters as much as registration
A registration nobody is watching doesn’t remove anything. Fakes do the most damage before anyone notices them. Monitoring checks the trademark registers, Companies House, new domains, social media, marketplaces and search engines. You hear about a problem while it’s small, and decide what’s worth acting on.
Regulators are moving too. In July 2026 Ofcom published draft codes requiring the largest platforms to tackle scam adverts, with final decisions due next year.
What we’d suggest
Be proportionate. If your name earns you money, register it in the classes that matter and keep watch, from £14 a month. Worried about what people find when they look you up? Start with a free personal brand audit, which needs no trademark at all.
Want to talk it through? Book a free 15 minute call, email enquiries@thetrademarkhelpline.com or call 0161 833 5400.
Related questions
- Can I trademark my own name?
- Does UK law protect your likeness from deepfakes?
- How do I protect my name, face and voice, and control what people find when they research me?
This answer is for information purposes only and does not constitute trademark advice or guidance. Last reviewed 2 November 2026.
