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.
Goods and Services Classes
Your trademark only protects the goods and services you claimed. Four free tools to find your classes and the exact wording the UK IPO has already accepted.
Trademark Class Builder
Class Selection
Article3 Jul 2026Does Your Trademark Cover AI Now Your Business Uses It?
Does your trademark cover AI now your business uses it? Using AI vs selling AI, which classes cover AI software and services, and a simple check to run.
FAQ10 Oct 2026What are trademark classes, and which one(s) do I actually need?
Trademark classes are the 45 categories your trademark covers. Why the terms you claim matter, and how to choose classes that fit the business you are building.
Article30 Jul 2026Can You Update a Trademark When Your Business Changes?
Can you update a trademark? You cannot add goods or services to a UK registration. When a business change needs a new filing, and why an annual review helps.
Article16 Jul 2026How Should You Word a Trademark Specification?
How to word a trademark specification: clear goods and services terms, the IPO's approved wording, overbroad claims after SkyKick, and the steps to file.
Article9 Jun 2026What Happens If You Register Your Trademark in the Wrong Class?
Registered your trademark in the wrong class? What it leaves unprotected, why you can't add classes later, and how to check and fix the gaps in the UK.
News19 Dec 2024How The Trademark Helpline is Adapting to the Latest Trademark High Court Ruling
Since 2008, The Trademark Helpline has been committed to ensuring our clients get their trademark applications right the first time. Our Trademark Clearance Audit Service…
Article8 Jul 2024TikTok Applies for ‘Genie’ Trademark in US for AI Chatbot 🤖
Discover how TikTok's new AI chatbot, Genie, can drive engagement and sales for UK businesses. Learn to leverage AI and stay ahead in the market.
News9 Jul 2021Archewell hits bump over trademark terms
The latest about the Sussex's Archewell trademark application.
News2 Jun 2021A Tesla burger whilst you wait for your car to charge?
Tesla has just applied for three trademarks with the US Patent Office, under the categories for Restaurant services, pop-up restaurant services, self-service restaur…
FAQ24 Jul 2026How Do I Check If a Name Is Trademarked?
How to check if a name is trademarked: search the UK register and each country you trade in, look for similar names, check your logo and unregistered use.
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.
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.
Article5 Aug 2026What Happens After Your Trademark Is Registered?
What happens after trademark registration? Renewal every ten years, the five-year use rule, monitoring, the ® symbol, record changes and fake renewal letters.
Article28 Jul 2026Should You Trademark a Product Name as Well as Your Business Name?
Should you trademark a product name as well as your business name? What Coca-Cola's SPRICY filing shows, which names to protect and when to file in the UK.
Article23 Jul 2026Should You Check a Name Can Be Trademarked Before You Rebrand?
Why a trademark check before a rebrand saves money: how to test whether a new name or logo can be registered, and what to do before the designer starts.
Article21 Jul 2026Can You Trademark a Descriptive Name for Your Business?
Can you trademark a descriptive name? Why the IPO objects, how We Buy Any Car was registered, and three routes to protecting a name that says what you sell.
FAQ3 Jul 2026Should You Renew Your Trademark or File a New Application?
Should you renew your trademark or file a new application? Why the answer is usually both, what renewal costs, and when refiling helps or backfires.
News2 Jul 2026Is the UK IPO Ending Series Trademark Applications?
The UK IPO is ending the series trademark application for new filings. What was announced, when it takes effect and what it means for your logo versions.
Article1 Jul 2026Do DIY Trademark Applications Fail More Often?
Do DIY trademark applications fail more often? What the IPO's own figures show, where self-filed marks come unstuck, and when doing it yourself can work.
Article29 Jun 2026Slogan Trademarks: Can You Trademark a Slogan or Tagline?
Can you trademark a slogan in the UK? Yes, if it is distinctive. How the IPO judges a slogan trademark, the Audi and Nestlé cases, and the steps and timings.
Article11 Jun 2026Is It Worth Registering Your Trademark in the UAE?
UAE trademark registration: what the official fees are, how the process and Madrid route work, and how to decide if the UAE is worth protecting now.
Article4 Jun 2026Can a Big Brand Oppose Your Trademark in a Different Industry?
Can a big brand oppose your trademark in a different industry? How similar goods and the reputation ground work, and what Crazy Rich Flavours shows.
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.
News16 Dec 2024The Supreme Court Ruling: A Game Changer for Overly Broad Trademark Filings
In December 2024, the UK Supreme Court delivered a landmark ruling in the SkyKick v Sky case [2024] UKSC 36, fundamentally reshaping the landscape…
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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.
