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.
Industry Trademark Report
Free sector report Free UK Trademark Sector Report See how companies in your industry protect their brand names, and which goods and services classes…
Article27 Aug 2026What Happens to a Trademark in Administration?
What happens to a trademark in administration? Who owns it, how administrators sell brands, what buyers really get and why recording the transfer matters.
News23 Aug 2021Manchester United to be renamed on Football Manager
Manchester United will be renamed on Football Manager games from FM22 onwards, following a trademark dispute with games giant Sega.
FAQ25 Sep 2026Can I just copyright my business name instead?
Copyright does not normally protect a business name in the UK. See what copyright covers, what a trademark protects and which protection fits your brand.
FAQ25 Sep 2026What would it cost me to rebrand if I am forced to change my name?
There is no standard cost for a forced rebrand. See what a name change really touches, from stock to search visibility, and how TMH reduces the risk.
FAQ25 Sep 2026How much is my brand or trademark actually worth?
What is your brand or trademark worth? See the factors that drive trademark value and how TMH prepares the asset for a buyer, investor or lender.
Article17 Sep 2026Who Should Own a Trademark: You or Your Company?
Should you or your company own the trademark? Learn how personal, company, holding company and joint ownership affect control, licensing and sale.
Article17 Sep 2026Trademarks When Selling or Buying a Business
A buyer isn’t just buying your sales and customer list, they’re buying the right to keep trading under your brand. What to check before a sale, on either side.
Article2 Sep 2026If Your Business Partner Walked Tomorrow, Who Owns the Brand Name?
Whoever is named on the register owns the trademark, not whoever built the brand. What happens when a co-founder leaves, and how to fix ownership before it matters.
Article20 Aug 2026Can a Trademark Be Split in Two? What a Dead GUINNESS Registration Shows About Brand Ownership
One GUINNESS registration became two, owned by different Diageo companies, with the 2001 filing date intact. How partial assignment works and when it matters.
Article14 Aug 2026Can a Sponsor or Licensee Damage Your Brand?
Can a sponsor or licensee damage your brand? What Burnley's shirt deal shows, what UK law lets you control and what a trademark licensing agreement needs.
Article11 Aug 2026Do You Need a Trademark Before You Franchise Your Business?
Do you need a trademark before you franchise? Why the franchisor needs to own the brand, how franchisee licences work, and five checks to run before you sell.
News24 Jun 2026Can You Still Use Your Own Name Once You’ve Sold the Brand? The Jo Malone Dispute
Can you still use your own name once you have sold the brand? It sounds like an odd question, but Jo Malone is facing…
News23 Jun 2026FIFA Made Levi’s Cover Its Own Stadium, and the Real Flex Was How Recognisable It Stayed
Source - James O’Connor FIFA: “Hey Levi’s, you’ll need to cover your name on Levi’s Stadium to meet our sponsorship rules.” Levi’s: “Sure thing.”…
News23 Jun 2026Gillette Stadium Becomes ‘Boston Stadium’ for the World Cup: What FIFA’s Clean Venue Rule Teaches Brand Owners
“Right, just cover the branding on every seat.” All 65,878 of them. That, more or less, is what has been happening at Gillette Stadium…
Article4 Jun 2026150 Years of UK Trademarks. What Actually Makes a Brand Last?
What do Rolls Royce, Cadbury, Marmite, Twinings and the BBC all have in common? Most people would probably say heritage. Reputation. Recognition. They would…
Article9 Apr 2026It May Not be a Trademark that You Need!
When first meeting potential clients a common situation is whether what they need is a Trademark or a Patent. The two are similar in…
Article6 Mar 2026Why We’re Adding Business Finance, Corporate Restructuring and Tax Planning to Our Annual Reviews
At The Trademark Helpline, one of the hardest parts of working closely with businesses over many years is seeing good businesses run into difficulty.…
Article23 Feb 2026Business Finance. Is It All a Scam?
After more than 18 years in the Trademark business, I have seen one brutal truth play out again and again. Most businesses do not…
Article27 Jan 2026The Power of Niching Down: What Jet Washing Taught Me About Building a Brand
Discover how niching and value-added services can turn simple jobs like jet washing into profitable opportunities, and why the same thinking matters for trademarks.
Article14 Jan 2026How The Right Trademark Representation Saves Businesses Money at Every Stage of Trademark Protection
Learn how The Trademark Helpline reduces trademark costs at every stage, from searches and registration to monitoring and enforcement, with fixed and transparent fees.
News15 Dec 2025Important – Update on Our Pricing
Since 2017, our pricing has remained unchanged. During that time, we have remained firmly committed to one principle: making high quality trademark support accessible…
Article15 Dec 2025How The Trademark Helpline Saves Businesses Money at Every Stage of Trademark Protection
Protecting a brand usually involves a few key steps: searching, registering, monitoring and, if needed, dealing with oppositions and copycats. Traditionally, most of…
News14 Oct 2025We Got a 1 Star Review… You Won’t Believe Why
It’s not every day you get a one-star review for something you didn’t even do. But this is exactly what happened to us last…
Article7 May 2025Hints, Tips and Tales #12: We Dropped a Bollock with Our WhatsApp
It may be bold but as a founder who is committed to sharing his business journey, I think it’s important that The Trademark Helpline…
Article12 Mar 2025Are You Spending Too Much Time on the Small Stuff?
The Golf Ball Theory – A Simple Way to Prioritise Your Time A well-known analogy explains how we choose to prioritise our time and…
5 Feb 2025How Rachel Vigers and her Consultancy Rock.Partners are helping brands of all shapes and sizes realise their business goals
The brainchild of seasoned business & brand strategist, Rachel Vigers, Rock.Partners is a consultancy focused on core foundations - aka Direction, Connection, Impact &…
News10 Jan 2025UK IPO Fees Are Increasing This April. Here’s What You Need to Know (and Why It Still Makes Sense to Protect Your Brand)
If you've been thinking about registering a trademark, renewing a design, or securing intellectual property protection for your business, you might want to act…
Article17 Dec 2024Financial Services, where brands don’t matter but trademarks still do
Can you think of one financial services brand that you truly love? In the finance industry, branding often takes a backseat to reputation, trust,…
News16 Dec 2024THE BOYZ Retain Trademark: A Game-Changer for Their Legacy
THE BOYZ are truly “Giddy Up” with excitement after securing the rights to their name. Following their departure from IST Entertainment, the group faced…
Article16 Dec 2024The Power of a Trademark as a Mark of Approval
See that pink stamp on our logo? One day soon, we hope that stamp will be the symbol of quality trademark advice. A trademark…
Article22 Oct 2024How can Partnerships and Collaborations support your brands growth?
Chapter 7 - The Power of Trademarks in Modern Marketing Partnerships and collaborations are done across all sectors, some more noticeable than others. In…
Article22 Oct 2024How can your Brand engage customers and build loyalty?
Chapter 6 - The Power of Trademarks in Modern Marketing It all comes down the Know, Like, Trust model or our preference: Visibility –…
Article22 Oct 2024How can you use your trademark as a Marketing and Promotional Tool?
Chapter 5 - The Power of Trademarks in Modern Marketing If you’ve ever worked with marketing agencies, or even have in-house marketing team, you’ll…
Article11 Sep 2024Apple, the MEGA brand – Legal rights and exclusivity
https://www.youtube.com/embed/oS2AERbIoWE Chapter 4 - The Power of Trademarks in Modern Marketing Apple’s Secret to Protecting Their Brand- Learn from the Best If yo…
Article11 Sep 2024MARVEL Studios show us how trademarks used well can become your biggest revenue stream
Chapter 3 - The Power of Trademarks in Modern Marketing Swapping Thor’s Hammer for Thor’s Lunchbox So how can trademarks and by trademarks, open…
Article11 Sep 2024Learning from Coca-Cola – How can a trademark not only protect your brand but also help you generate more revenue?
Chapter 2 - The Power of Trademarks in Modern Marketing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WMCSzsl0vU A UK trademark can be turned into buckets of gold if you do…
Article11 Sep 2024Why Are Trademark Applications Going Up Year After Year?
Chapter 1 - The Power of Trademarks in Modern Marketing Did you know the UK has seen one of the highest increases in Trademark…
Article11 Sep 2024Being More than just a Trademark Representative
Intro - The Power of Trademarks in Modern Marketing Marketing Have you noticed that we try to be more than just Trademark Representative's? Did…
Article28 Jun 2024Hints, Tips & Tales #11 – Artificial Intelligence In 2024 – What I’ve Learned So Far
Discover how AI can revolutionise your business with tips from a Dragon's Den investor. Enhance productivity, customer relationships, and decision-making with AI.
Article25 May 2024Why Should You Be Adding Trademark Services to Your Customer Services
Explore the benefits of adding Trademark Registration Services to your client offerings. Learn how partnering with The Trademark Helpline can protect your clients' b…
Article10 May 2024Hints, Tips and Tales #10 – The Path to Passion
Discover the birth of The Trademark Helpline and its journey to becoming a leading provider of UK trademark registration services. Learn how prioritising trademark p…
Article9 May 2024Hints, Tips and Tales #9 – The Trademark Helpline Trigger
Discover the importance of UK trademark registration in protecting brands and avoiding legal disputes. Gain insights into handling trademark infringement challenges…
Article8 May 2024Hints, Tips and Tales #8 – The Impact of the Credit Crunch
Explore the impact of the credit crunch and how it led to a pivotal shift in business strategy. Discover valuable insights on navigating challenges and adapting to n…
Article7 May 2024Hints, Tips and Tales #7 – The Tale of an Unexpected Turn
Explore the unexpected journey behind The Trademark Helpline and discover how a background in financial services led to innovative approaches in UK trademark registr…
Article6 May 2024Hints, Tips and Tales #6 – A simple change with big results
Maximise your outreach efforts for UK trademark registration with our proven strategies. Learn how simple changes and persistent follow-up can dramatically increase…
Article5 May 2024Hints, Tips and Tales #5 – A.I. The great leveller
Unlock the potential of UK trademark registration with our proven strategies. Discover how simple changes can yield big results and automate your follow-up process f…
Article4 May 2024Hints, Tips and Tales #4 – What’s your call to action?
Unlock the benefits of trademark registration with our expert UK trademark registration services. Ensure legal protection for your brand with streamlined registratio…
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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.
