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.
Social Media Takedowns Services
Need a social media takedown service? We remove fake accounts, impersonation, and trademark infringement across all major platforms. Expert support, fast results.
Trademark Cancellations
Need to cancel a trademark or facing a third-party cancellation? We handle voluntary removals and defend against cancellation actions on the UK register.
Trademark Cease and Desist Services
Received a trademark cease and desist letter, or need to send one? We draft, send, and respond to cease and desist notices to protect your brand and resolve disputes.
Website Takedown Services
Expert website takedown services to remove counterfeit sites, trademark infringement, and unauthorised use of your brand. We handle the entire takedown process for you.
UK & EU Trademark Invalidation
Protect your brand with our UK & EU trademark invalidation services. Get expert guidance, evidence support, and representation. Start with a free trademark search today.
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.
News4 Nov 2024Trademark Owner does the right thing! The story of ‘Pho’
One thing we always advocate for is mediation over legal action, trying to reach a compromise without going to court usually saves time and…
Article28 Sep 2026Are Trademarks a Metaphor for Life?
Can a trademark stop someone using your brand? Not physically, any more than a speed limit stops speeding. Why registration still deters, and how it fits in.
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.
News4 Jul 2024The Importance of Trademark Protection – Lessons from Nike vs BAPE
Safeguard your fashion brand with effective trademark protection, inspired by the Nike vs. BAPE case. Ensure continuous enforcement, quality control, and strategic s…
FAQ10 Oct 2026Is my business name too similar to one that already exists, could I be infringing?
Could your business name infringe an existing brand? How similarity is judged, why a clear Companies House check is not enough, and how to check first.
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.
News26 Sep 2024Google Embroiled in Trademark Lawsuit Over ‘Gemini’ AI Branding
Even ‘Internet Giants’ like Google are not immune to trademark controversies! We often talk about how Google is one of the biggest advocates for…
Article28 Aug 2024What is Trademark Trolling?
Trademark trolling refers to the practice where individuals or entities exploit the trademark system by registering trademarks, often on common or generic terms, with…
Article28 Aug 2024Paul Dell vs Dell Inc: A Trademark Dispute
The trademark dispute between Dell Inc., the global technology giant, and Paul Dell, a British entrepreneur, centres around the use of the "Dell" name.…
News4 Jun 2024Nike Triumphs in Legal Battle Over Stripes in Germany
Discover the latest development in the Nike vs. Adidas trademark battle. A German court has partially overturned its ban, allowing Nike to feature three stripes on m…
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.
What is trademark invalidation?
Invalidation is the legal procedure for challenging a trademark that the UK IPO or the EUIPO has already registered, where it looks like, sounds like or is spelled l…
What is the difference between a trademark opposition and an invalidation?
The difference is timing. An opposition challenges a trademark during its application stage, aiming to stop it being registered at all, which is why early detection…
What grounds can be used to invalidate a trademark?
The most common grounds are earlier rights, lack of distinctiveness and bad faith. Earlier rights apply where you own a prior trademark or were using a similar mark…
Which form is used to invalidate a UK trademark?
A UK invalidation is filed with the UK IPO on Form TM26(I). For an EU trademark, the equivalent is an Application for a Declaration of Invalidity at the EUIPO. We he…
On what grounds can a UK trademark be cancelled?
The most common ground is non-use: a trademark that has not been used for a continuous period of five years can be challenged and cancelled. A registration can also…
What is the difference between trademark cancellation and invalidation?
Cancellation generally applies to a trademark that was validly registered but should now be removed, for example because of non-use or a voluntary request. Invalidat…
How do I defend my trademark against a non-use cancellation?
The burden of proof sits with the owner, so the key is evidence that the trademark has been used within the past five years, or a valid reason for the lack of use. W…
Which form is used to cancel a UK trademark for non-use?
A non-use cancellation at the UK Intellectual Property Office is filed on Form TM26(N). For an EU trademark, the equivalent is an Application for Cancellation at the…
FAQ12 Oct 2026Someone is already using my business name, what can I do?
Do not contact or threaten the other business until the position has been properly assessed. Preserve evidence of what it is doing, including website pages, social m…
FAQ12 Oct 2026I’ve received a cease and desist letter, what do I do now?
Do not ignore the letter, do not panic and do not respond until the claim has been properly assessed. We have seen genuine deadlines missed because a letter was dism…
How does a registered trademark help remove a fake social media account?
A registered trademark proves ownership of your brand, which gives a clear basis for a formal complaint to the platform. With it, infringing content, handles and acc…
What is the social media takedown process?
There are five stages. We assess the content or account to confirm it breaches your rights, gather evidence including proof of trademark ownership, and file a formal…
When might a business need a social media takedown?
Common reasons include impersonation accounts using your name or logo, handles or usernames containing your registered trademark, accounts promoting counterfeit prod…
What is a website takedown service?
A website takedown service identifies online use that infringes your rights and works to have it removed from websites, search engines and the platforms where it is…
What happens if a website owner refuses to remove infringing content?
If the infringing party does not co-operate, the matter can be escalated. As the trademark owner, and through our representation, you can ask the relevant hosting pl…
Can a trademark help recover a copycat domain name?
It can. One client's first monitoring report found an infringing domain registered by a former supplier. On our advice, they complained to Nominet, which administers…
Are most website infringements deliberate?
In our experience, most infringements are inadvertent rather than malicious. Intent is often a factor when gathering evidence, and it usually shapes the approach. We…
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…
News17 Sep 2026Can You Sue Someone for Copying Your Brand? What Louboutin v YSL Actually Decided
If someone copies your brand, can you actually sue? What Louboutin’s red sole case decided, what a registration really gives you, and when it won’t be enough.
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.
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.
Article18 Aug 2026Can You Lose a Trademark If You Don’t Use It? Yes, and 2026 Has Made the Risk More Real
Can you lose a trademark if you don't use it? Yes. After five years of non-use a UK trademark can be revoked, and EU use no longer saves a comparable UK mark.
Article3 Jul 2026What Happens to Your Old Trademark After a Rebrand?
What happens to your trademark after a rebrand? Renewal, the five-year non-use rule and what Halifax retiring its brand shows about keeping an old name alive.
News1 Jul 2026Should You Trademark Your Company Name? The Lesson Behind the “1587 Prime” Steakhouse Dispute
Mahomes and Kelce's 1587 Prime steakhouse is being sued over its name. Here's what the dispute teaches every business owner about clearing a name first.
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.
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…
News23 Jun 202666,000 Fake Football Shirts Seized in Spain: Why Enforcement Always Comes Back to a Registered Right
More than 66,000 fake football shirts, around 16 tonnes of them, have been seized across Spain in a single coordinated operation as the 2026…
News23 Jun 2026Jellycat Versus the High Street: Why ‘Just a Cuddly Toy’ Is a Serious Brand Protection Lesson
Jellycat going after major retailers is a brilliant reminder that “cute” can still be very serious business. Most people look at a Jellycat and…
News23 Jun 2026A World Cup Marketing Warning for Pubs and Hospitality: What You Can and Cannot Say
If you run a pub, bar or any kind of hospitality venue, the World Cup is one of the best trading opportunities of the…
News17 Jun 2026Did you know that Umbro lost a Supreme Court case last summer?
Here is a question that tends to stop people in their tracks. Did you know that Umbro, the company behind one of the most…
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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.
