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.
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.
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.
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.
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…
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…
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,…
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…
Article3 May 2024Hints, Tips and Tales #3 – Leveraging Existing Clients for UK Trademark Registration
Unlock the power of leveraging existing clients for UK Trademark Registration. Discover cost-effective strategies to renew and expand trademark portfolios.
Article2 May 2024Hints, Tips and Tales #2 – Diminishing Returns
Explore practical business insights in our latest article on overcoming diminishing returns. Learn key strategies for avoiding boredom, embracing AI technology, and…
Article1 May 2024Hints, Tips and Tales #1 – The Power of Persistence in Marketing
Discover the power of persistence in marketing with our latest story on how strategic actions quadrupled enquiry levels for UK Trademark Registration. Gain valuable…
Article6 Jul 2016The ABC’s of Business Insurance
Always Be Covered This article is by no means a comprehensive guide to business insurance. Sadly, the breadth of the topic can hardly be…
Article6 Jul 2016Starting a New Business Checklist
Starting a new business? During this exciting time, it’s all too easy to overlook some of the fundamentals that can make the difference between…
Article26 Mar 2016Writing a Business Plan
Whether you’re looking to raise outside funding or are looking to communicate your vision effectively to your team, taking the time to construct a…
Article10 Mar 2016Direct Sales vs Indirect Sales
When you are speaking with potential customers and clients, how do you get to the point in the conversation where you can actually make…
Article7 Feb 20165 Tips For Building A Sales Strategy
So often, new companies struggle with building sales momentum despite having a great product or service. If you aren’t seeing the results you were…
Article1 Feb 2016Auto Enrolment: The Basics
Understand the basics of auto enrolment for UK businesses. Learn employer responsibilities, key deadlines, and how to stay compliant with pension regulations.
Article1 Feb 2016Choosing A Company Structure
So, you’ve decided to start your own business and you’re ready to take the first steps, but being an expert in your field doesn’t…
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.
Article15 Jun 2026The Most Expensive Trademark Application Is the One That Fails
People ask me all the time what it costs to register a trademark in the UK. It is a fair question, and I understand…
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.
Article6 Feb 2026Who Manages Trademarks Within an Organisation?
Discover who manages trademarks in your organization. Expert trademark management services for businesses of all sizes. Free consultation available.
Article13 Aug 2025Trademarks, Designs & Patents: What’s the Right Solution for You?
Every day we receive dozens of enquiries, and they typically fall into two camps: People with a new concept who want guidance on how…
Article29 Nov 2024How 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 &…
Article19 Jun 2024How can trademarks boost your Search Engine Rankings?
Register and trademark a business name to boost online presence. Protect your brand, increase trust, and improve SEO rankings. Invest in our Trademark Service today.
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.
