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.
Trademark Registration and Renewal Services
Protect your brand with expert trademark registration and renewal services. Secure legal protection and peace of mind for your business.
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Trademark Renewal in the UK
UK trademarks last 10 years. Renew up to 6 months before expiry, or 6 months late with a £60 fee. Official fees, deadlines and how we can help.
Trademark Representation and Protection
Need to protect your trademark from scams, infringement, and missed deadlines? Our trademark representation service handles monitoring, renewals, and disputes on you…
Trademark Monitoring & Alert Services
Monitor your trademark across UK, EU, and international registers. Get alerts when similar marks are filed so you can act fast and protect your brand.
Transferring to The Trademark Helpline
Discover our Trademark Transfer Service if your registered trademark lacks ongoing support from your current agent. Switch to The Trademark Helpline for expert repre…
Free Monitoring
The Trademark Helpline is offering FREE trademark monitoring to business owners and startups for a limited time. Stay protected against copycats and safeguard your b…
3 Feb 2025How can you make a trademark Unique? The story behind I Love Manchester’s Trademark
If you want a Lesson in trademark innovation and protection, the look no further than I Love Manchester, a company whose brand is the…
What does a trademark monitoring report check?
A monitoring report looks across the places a conflicting brand is likely to appear. It covers new trademark applications and existing registrations at the Intellect…
How often is trademark monitoring carried out?
We carry out monitoring reports monthly, so there is always an opportunity to act early. That differs from a clearance audit, which is a one-off check before filing.…
Why does spotting trademark infringement early make a difference?
Most passing off is inadvertent rather than malicious, so the earlier a problem is found, the quicker and easier it usually is to resolve. Early notice of a conflict…
Do I need to renew my trademark?
Yes. Renewal is required every ten years to maintain protection. Failure to renew may result in the mark lapsing and in the worst case, opportunists registering your…
What happens if my trademark expires?
If a trademark expires, there is typically a limited grace period during which it may be restored upon payment of additional fees. If that period passes, protection…
Can I restore an expired trademark?
In some cases, yes, provided action is taken within the statutory grace period. Restoration is not automatic and timing is important. This is why as representatives…
How much does trademarking cost?
Trademark registration costs can vary depending on your specific requirements, including the number of goods and services classes you need and the countries you wish…
How do I transfer my trademark representation to The Trademark Helpline?
The process takes four steps. We provide a complete list of your current UK trademarks, then pre-fill the change of representative form, TM33, which you check before…
Why do trademark owners change representative?
Owners move for a range of reasons. Some want more than a filing service, with monitoring and enforcement support once the mark is registered. Others want renewals t…
What does trademark representation include?
Representation includes monitoring as standard, covering company name filings, domain registrations and social handles as well as the trademark register. Renewals ar…
Is my trademark at risk while representation is transferred?
No. Changing representative changes who receives official correspondence and manages deadlines, while the trademark itself stays registered to you. We handle the sub…
When is a UK trademark due for renewal?
A UK trademark is due for renewal ten years from its filing date, the day the application was made, not the day it was registered. For most trademarks that is a few…
How much does it cost to renew a UK trademark?
The UK IPO's renewal fee is £245 for the first class and £60 for each extra class. Renewing up to six months after expiry adds a £60 late fee. Restoration between si…
Do I need proof of use to renew a UK trademark?
No. Renewing a UK trademark does not require evidence of use. However, once a trademark has been registered for five years, use starts to matter: if you enforce it o…
Can I add goods, services or a new logo when renewing a trademark?
No. At renewal you can remove classes, goods or services, but you cannot add anything. New goods, new services, a new logo or a different version of the name all nee…
What does a trademark registration service include?
Our registration service covers each step of the process. We carry out thorough searches to identify potential conflicts, help classify your goods or services correc…
How does a trademark renewal service work?
Trademarks have to be renewed periodically to keep their legal protection. We notify you well in advance of each renewal deadline, manage the paperwork and submissio…
Can representation package hours be used for registrations and renewals?
Yes. Clients with a monthly representation package can use their allocated hours for trademark registrations and renewals, so they only pay the official fees charged…
Do I need to renew my trademark?
Yes. Renewal is required every ten years to maintain protection. Failure to renew may result in the mark lapsing and in the worst case, opportunists registering your…
What happens if my trademark expires?
If a trademark expires, there is typically a limited grace period during which it may be restored upon payment of additional fees. If that period passes, protection…
Can I restore an expired trademark?
In some cases, yes, provided action is taken within the statutory grace period. Restoration is not automatic and timing is important. This is why as representatives…
What is trademark infringement?
Trademark infringement occurs where someone uses a mark that is identical or confusingly similar to a registered trademark in relation to similar goods or services.…
What is passing off?
Passing off is a legal claim that may arise where a business has built goodwill in a brand but does not have a registered trademark. To succeed, it generally require…
What should I do if someone copies my brand?
The appropriate response depends on whether you hold a registered trademark and the nature of the copying. In many cases, early and proportionate contact can resolve…
What is a cease and desist letter?
A cease and desist letter is a formal communication requesting that another party stops using a mark or brand you believe infringes your rights. It outlines your pos…
Should I send a cease and desist letter?
In many situations, a well-drafted letter can resolve a dispute at an early stage. However, sending formal correspondence without first assessing the strength of you…
How much does it cost to deal with a trademark opposition or infringement?
The official UK IPO fees for filing a dispute are relatively low, typically starting from around £80. However, the overall cost can vary significantly depending on w…
FAQ15 Sep 2026Can You See What Trademarks Your Competitors Are Filing?
Yes. How a competitor trademark search works on the UK register, what new filings reveal and hide, and how monitoring keeps watch for you from £14 a month.
News7 Sep 2026The Trademark Helpline launches enhanced client monitoring, portal access and new business-support services
New fortnightly UK trademark monitoring reports, a client portal and watchlists. What The Trademark Helpline does behind the scenes, and what changes next.
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.
FAQ10 Jul 2026Do Trademarks Expire If You Miss the Renewal?
Do trademarks expire? A UK mark lasts ten years. What happens if you miss renewal: the six-month late period, the fees, and the restoration route after that.
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.
News25 Jun 2026Trademark Renewal and Ownership: What the Beckham ‘Brooklyn’ Trademark Teaches Every UK Business Owner
The Beckham 'Brooklyn' trademark is nearing renewal - a sharp lesson in trademark ownership. Learn who really owns your brand and why renewal deadlines matter.
News16 Jun 2026Oatly’s ‘Post Milk Generation’ Trademark Struck Down by the UK Supreme Court
There is a comforting little thought that a lot of business owners allow themselves once the certificate finally arrives, and it tends to go…
News25 May 2026Why Taylor Swift Trademarking Her Voice Should Make Every UK Brand Owner Think Harder About AI
This isn't the first time we have commended Taylor Swift over here on the Helpline, after all, who doesn't love a bit of Tay…
News30 Oct 2025IMPORTANT – Lessons from SpudBros vs The Spud Father – Part 2
Prevention Is Better Than Cure Registering a trademark is only the first step. The second, often forgotten and probably more important for you (the…
News23 Apr 2025TM Direct Update: Trademark Direct Clients
Update – 5 May 2025 Trademark Direct have confirmed that their preferred email address for client correspondence is info@trademarkdirect.co.uk. They have also confir…
3 Feb 2025The Brand That Protects Everyone Else: How We Helped WESTTEK Protect Their Own
Learn how WESTTEK protected its Security Everywhere brand with trademark registration, monitoring and enforcement. Discover why proactive trademark protection helps…
Linn Boo, Boo Consulting
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.
Browse by topic
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.
