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 Opposition
Need to file a trademark opposition or defend your application against one? Expert UK support to protect your brand throughout the opposition process.
Article6 Aug 2026What Is a TM7A Notice of Threatened Opposition?
A TM7A notice of threatened opposition gives someone an extra month to oppose your UK trademark. What it means and the opposition timeline, stage by stage.
News12 Jun 2026Can You Use AI-Generated Evidence in a Trademark Dispute?
Can you use AI-generated evidence in a trademark dispute? What happened in our IPO opposition case, the ChatGPT decisions, and how to prepare real evidence.
News27 Apr 2021McGregor looses fight to trademark his name for clothing line.
Connor McGregor news story by the trademark helpline. Conor McGregor has failed in a legal fight with a clothing firm over sportswear that bears his name.
FAQ2 Oct 2026Can someone trademark a name I’m already using and force me to stop?
Yes, potentially, but not simply because they filed an application. Applying first can give them a significant advantage, but it does not automatically erase your ea…
Article15 Sep 2026Airbnb v bnb-side: How Far Can Trademark Rights Extend Over Descriptive Words?
Airbnb has opposed the UK trademark applications for bnb-side. We look at the dispute, descriptive terms, famous trademarks and how far brand rights can extend.
News23 Jun 2026Gymshark Just Blocked a Copycat Called ‘GymBull’, and Why That Matters for Smaller Brands
Gymshark started life in a garage in Solihull, and this month it blocked a copycat trademark called ‘GymBull’. The garage bit is the part…
News10 Jun 2026Can a Smaller Business’s Trademark Stop a Famous Brand?
How prior trademark rights let a Las Vegas performer challenge Taylor Swift's Showgirl filing, how the same rules work in the UK and why filing first matters.
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.
News28 Jun 2024Reflecting on House of Zana’s Trademark Victory Over Zara
Amber Kotrri of House of Zana wins a trademark dispute against Zara, showcasing small business resilience and the importance of trademark protection.
News21 Sep 2021Red Bull challenge gin maker Bullards
A small Norwich based gin making business, founded in 1837, has become the target of energy drink super giant, Red Bull, over the use…
News10 May 2021Chanel & Huawei go head to head, again, over interlocking semi-circles.
The first thing you think of when someone say’s ‘brand identity’ is the logo, just like the first thing you think of when someone…
News10 Jul 2026When Your Competitor Copies Your Logo: The Anthropic v Abnormal AI Case
What the Anthropic v Abnormal AI case teaches about logo trademark infringement, brand protection and why registering your trademark early matters.
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.
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.
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.
FAQ1 Sep 2026What Is a Trademark Coexistence Agreement?
What is a trademark coexistence agreement? How two businesses share a similar name, what the agreement covers, and why it needs to plan for growth.
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.
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.
Article8 Jun 2026Should You Trademark a Brand That Started on Social Media?
Should you trademark a brand that started on social media? Why a handle is not a trademark, the marketing risk of an unowned name, and practical steps to take.
Article8 Jun 2026Can a Bigger Brand Force You to Change Your Business Name?
Can a bigger brand force you to change your business name? What Patagonia and TickTickTrader v TikTok show about who wins, and what to do if a letter lands.
News19 May 2025How Brexit and Backlogs Are Leaving One Small Business Owner £30,000 Out of Pocket in a Trademark Battle with L’Oréal
Discover how Brexit and EUIPO backlogs cost one small business £30,000 in a trademark dispute with L’Oréal—and what it means for your brand protection strategy.
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…
News22 Oct 2024WordPress vs WP Engine – Trademark Dispute
A Battle Over Branding and Legal Rights - If you’re in the web development community you’ll have been captivated recently by the ongoing trademark…
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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.
