Knowledge Hub · Updated 13 October 2026
Trademark Knowledge Hub
Free, plain-English help with UK trademarks, from the team that has been registering and protecting brands for UK businesses since 2008.
Everything we publish is here in one place: step-by-step guides, answers to the questions business owners ask us most, trademark news, real client stories, scam warnings and short videos. Search for your question, filter by topic, or start with what other readers are looking at this week. If you can’t find what you need, ask us and a specialist will reply within one working day.
UK Trademark
Our Trademark Specialist handles your Trademark Application from search to registration. Whether its Brand Name Registration or logo, or tagline.
Trademark Cost Calculator
Free tool · No sign up What will your trademark actually cost? Work out the real cost of protecting your brand, in the UK…
International Trademark Registration
Our specialists manage your Global Trademark Registration across multiple countries, providing expert advice and clear guidance on International Trademark Cost.
Design Registration and Renewal Services
Protect how your product looks with UK design registration. Covers shapes, patterns, and packaging. Easy renewal every 5 years. Not sure about trademarking a design?…
A Guide to European Community Trademarks
Learn how European Community Trademarks (now EU Trademarks) work, their benefits, and how to register your brand across the EU with this practical guide.
How to Trademark a Business Name in the UK
A company name at Companies House isn't a trademark. How to protect your business name in the UK: what it costs, how long it takes, and a free search.
Self-Service vs The Trademark Helpline vs a Trademark Attorney
The honest comparison Doing it yourself, using us, or paying a trademark attorney. What the register actually shows. Every figure below comes from the…
Trademark Process
A clear, visual guide The trademark process, explained. From the day you file to the day you are registered — every stage, what happens,…
EU Trademark Registration
EU trademark registration made simple: one EU trademark application protects your brand across all 27 EU member states. UK specialists since 2008, fixed fee.
Free Trademark Guide
Download our free trademark Guide.
Trademark Your Name
Learn how to trademark your name with step-by-step guidance on eligibility, application process, and protecting your personal brand effectively.
Trademark Protection
Learn how to protect your trademark in the UK and EU. Our experts help safeguard your brand with legal advice, monitoring, and enforcement services.
Trademarking Your Logo
Want to trademark your logo in the UK? Protect your brand's visual identity with expert filing support. We handle the search, application, and registration for you.
Article30 Jun 2021Bass, the UK’s oldest trademark
The story behind the UK's oldest trademark, Bass beer.
News25 Aug 2026Why Is OpenAI’s ChatGPT Trademark Being Opposed in Australia?
OpenAI's ChatGPT trademark has been opposed in Australia by the owner of the GPT property group. How oppositions work there and what it means for UK brands.
Article29 May 2026What Can You Do If the IPO Objects to Your Trademark?
Had a trademark objection from the IPO? What it means, your two-month deadline, the options for responding and what happens at an ex parte hearing.
3 Feb 2025A Stress-Free Experience with The Trademark Helpline: Isabel’s Free From Success Story
Discover Isabel's stress-free trademark registration success with The Trademark Helpline. Experience expert guidance, seamless communication, and top-notch trademark…
Article24 Aug 2026Why Do Some Brands Have Different Names in Different Countries?
Why do some brands have different names in different countries? Hungry Jack's, Lynx and Walkers explained, and how to check your name before you expand.
Article27 Jan 2026UK Trademark vs EU and International Trademarks: Understanding the Differences and Avoiding Costly Mistakes
Understand the differences between UK, EU and international trademarks, and learn how to avoid costly filing mistakes that leave your brand unprotected.
3 Feb 2025Case Study – Grandma’s Kitchen
The Trademark Helpline client case study on Bolton based new business Grandma's Kitchen.
News22 Oct 2024Erling Haaland’s Trademark Journey
Goals and Red Cards Erling Haaland is a name inextricably linked with success and, occasionally, controversy. As one of the world's most prolific goal…
FAQ12 Oct 2026Is my company name automatically protected once it’s registered at Companies House?
No. Registering a company name at Companies House does not register it as a trademark or automatically give you exclusive rights to use it as a brand. A limited comp…
Could someone really register my business name and stop me using it?
Yes. The UK works on a first-to-file basis. If someone registers your name as a trademark before you do, they can hold the rights, even if you’ve traded under it for…
FAQ12 Oct 2026What actually happens if I never trademark my brand?
Possibly nothing happens immediately. The problem is that the need for trademark protection often becomes apparent only after the business has built something valuab…
FAQ12 Oct 2026Is it worth paying to trademark, or am I fine as I am?
Not every name needs to be registered as a trademark. The important question is what would happen to your business if you could no longer use the brand, or if somebo…
How much does it cost to register a trademark in the UK?
The UK IPO's official fee starts at £205 to register one class for ten years' protection, and rises with each additional class. That official fee is the cost of regi…
Can’t I just do it myself at the IPO?
You can file directly. But applications filed without professional input are almost twice as likely to be rejected at examination, usually over class selection or an…
Can’t I just copyright my business name instead?
No, and plenty of websites get this wrong. Copyright protects creative works like writing, music or artwork. It does not protect a name. To protect what your busines…
What are trademark classes, and which ones do I need?
Protection is divided into classes: defined groups of goods and services. You’re protected only in the classes you register, and they can’t be added later, so gettin…
FAQ12 Oct 2026When should I trademark, before or after I launch? Is it ever too late?
Not every business name needs to be registered as a trademark. If your brand, including your name, logo or tagline, is unique and important to your plans, you should…
How long does registration take, and am I exposed while I wait?
In a straightforward case, around four months from filing, assuming no examiner objection and no third-party opposition. Importantly, your protection dates back to y…
Should I register outside the UK too?
A UK trademark stops at the UK border. If you sell, or plan to sell, abroad, applying internationally within six months of your UK filing lets you claim your UK fili…
What makes up the cost of a trademark?
There are two parts. Official register fees are set by each trademark office, rise with the number of classes you cover, and are paid straight to the office. Profess…
What is not included in a fixed trademark application price?
Renewals, which normally fall due every ten years, are not included, and neither is monitoring, or enforcing and defending the trademark if somebody tries to copy or…
How much is the brand audit before filing a trademark?
Our Brand Audit with review and consultation is normally £298, but you pay £99. The £99 is deducted from your fees if you choose us to register the trademark. If we…
Why does one trademark cost more than another?
Two things drive the number: classes and territories. Each extra class of goods or services adds to the official fee, and a UK registration protects the UK only, so…
What is the difference between a registered design and a trademark?
A trademark protects your brand name, logo or slogan. A registered design protects how a product looks: its shape, configuration, pattern or ornamentation, including…
How long does a UK registered design last?
A UK registered design can last up to 25 years, but it has to be renewed every five years to stay valid. That is different from a trademark, which renews every ten y…
How many designs can go in one UK design application?
A single UK application can include between one and ten designs, provided they fall within the same Locarno class. Each visually distinct version, such as a differen…
How long does it take to register a design in the UK?
Design registration is usually much faster than a trademark, often within two to three weeks, compared with a minimum of three to four months for a trademark. The pr…
FAQ12 Oct 2026Do I need separate UK and EU trademarks after Brexit?
If your brand matters in both the UK and the European Union, you generally need trademark protection covering both territories. A UK trademark does not protect you t…
What happens to my EU trademark if a country leaves the EU?
It only affects you if a country you rely on leaves, and the Brexit precedent is reassuring. When the UK left, the EUIPO and the UK IPO arranged for every existing E…
Can I convert my UK trademark into an EU trademark?
Not directly, they are separate rights, so you file a fresh EU application. The useful part is that if you file in the EU within six months of your UK filing date, y…
Do I need a UK trademark before applying for an EU one?
No. An EUTM is independent and you can file it directly. For a UK business it is often sensible to register in the UK first, since that is your home market, but it i…
How long does an EU trademark application take?
In a straightforward case with no opposition, usually around four to six months from filing through to registration. We give you a realistic timeline at the outset a…
Does an EU trademark cover the UK, Switzerland or Norway?
No. An EUTM covers the 27 EU member states only. The UK needs its own registration since Brexit, and non-EU countries such as Switzerland, Norway and Turkey each nee…
How much does an EU trademark cost?
The EUIPO official fee starts at €850 for one class filed online, with €50 for a second class and €150 for each further class. We confirm the exact official fees for…
Can a business outside the UK register an EU trademark through you?
Yes. A business based anywhere in the world that sells into Europe can protect its brand across all 27 EU states with one EUTM through us, with a single UK based poi…
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Trademark advice by topic
Check and plan
Search the register, choose the right classes and check a name before you file.
See all guides →Manage and protect
Monitoring, renewals and representation once your trademark is registered.
See all guides →Trademark disputes
Oppositions, cancellations, cease and desist letters and online takedowns.
See all guides →The people behind the answers
Our authors
Jonathan PatonFounder & CEOBrand protection strategy for UK businesses since 2008.
Matthew GriffithsCommercial DirectorClient work and our UK and international partnerships.
Alex PughBrand Protection ConsultantNew clients, international applications and hearings.
Laura SpencerParalegalDrafting, filing and progressing applications.
Saad AshrafMarketing ManagerMarketing and the trademark data behind our guides.
