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.
Video4 Jul 2026Why 380,000 UK Tech Trademarks Do Not Cover AI
Around 380,000 active tech trademarks in the UK do not cover AI, and the reason reveals something most business owners miss about how trademark…
Video30 Jun 2026The Job Every Business Owner Puts Off
Trademark registration is the job most business owners keep putting off, usually because they are busy building the business rather than wrestling with the…
Video26 Jun 2026Why Influencers Are Trademarking Their Own Names
More and more influencers are trademarking their own names, and the reason often isn't what you'd expect. When asked why, many don't talk about…
Video24 Jun 2026Trademark Scammers Are Now Forging Lawyers' Names
Trademark scams have taken a more sophisticated turn. The latest letters put a real law firm or lawyer's name on them to make them…
Video18 Jun 2026Everyone's Using AI Now, Even Solicitors
AI has made its way into every corner of work, including the legal profession. But leaning on it for serious legal tasks, without checking…
Video16 Jun 2026How One Trademark Beat a Company Holding a Client's Domain Hostage
A trademark is far more powerful than most people realise. In the early days of the web, some providers would build a business's website…
Video12 Jun 2026Think You Can Use AI to Fight a Trademark Dispute? Think Again
In a recent case, we were acting for a client whose trademark was being infringed and opposing the other side's application. The other party,…
Video11 Jun 2026Being Legally Right Isn't Always Enough to Keep Your Brand
You would think that being legally in the right means you would win a trademark dispute. It does not always work that way. In…
Video11 Jun 2026Trademarking in the UAE Costs a Lot, Here's Why It Can Be Worth It
More businesses than ever are looking to protect their brand in the UAE, drawn by the appeal of the market. The cost of trademarking…
Video10 Jun 2026The Trademark Scam You Need to Know About
Trademark scams are on the rise, and AI is making them more convincing than ever. As soon as a trademark application is submitted, a…
Video8 Jun 2026Is Someone Using Your Brand Name? How to Protect a Brand in the Social Media Age
Someone could be using your brand name right now, and you might not even know. The way people protect a brand has changed, and…
Video5 Jun 2026Want Your Brand to Own a Market? First You Have to Own the Brand
In buoyant markets, everyone wants their brand to dominate the space. Whether it's the UK or somewhere fast-growing like Dubai, businesses are all chasing…
Video4 Jun 2026Trademark Disputes Are on the Rise | What It Means for Small Businesses
Trademarks are on the rise, which means the space your brand sits in is getting more crowded by the day. SMEs deserve the same…
Video4 Jun 2026Why Celebrities Are Trademarking Their Faces | AI, Brand Protection & Trademarks Explained
Trademarks, AI and the reality of running a business. Jon and Matt break down what's really happening in the trademark world and the wider…
Video3 Jun 2026You Can Trademark Your Face? Luke Littler Just Tried | Trademarks vs AI Fakes
Darts champion Luke Littler has applied to trademark his own face, aiming to stop AI generated fakes using his likeness on counterfeit products. It's…
Video2 Jun 2026Trademark Registration Isn't the End | Why Monitoring and Enforcement Matter
Many business owners assume that once a trademark is registered, the job is done. It isn't. As representatives, registering a trademark is just one…
Video1 Jun 2026Katy Perry Trademark Dispute Explained | What It Means for Your Brand
The Katy Perry trademark dispute has finally been resolved, but only after years of back-and-forth, an early ruling that went the wrong way, and…
Video28 Apr 2026Social Media Copycats
You’ve worked hard to build your brand—don't let a copycat cash in on your success! In the world of Instagram and TikTok, "similar" names…
Video23 Apr 2026Avoid this mistake when setting up your business
Most founders realize this mistake only after it becomes expensive. Protect your brand early — the right foundation saves future problems. Contact us for…
Video6 Mar 2026Your Brand Name Looks Free, But Is It Actually Safe?
Just because your brand name is available on Companies House and the domain is free, that does not mean someone else does not already…
Video14 Feb 2026Why We Sometimes Tell Clients Not to File a Trademark
What is the toughest part of this job? Saying no. Once a trademark is submitted, anyone with a similar mark is notified and has…
Video13 Feb 2026Money Back Guarantee on a Trademark? Watch This First
A money back guarantee on a trademark application sounds reassuring. In reality, it can be a red flag. In this video, we explain why…
Video6 Feb 20265 Trademark Myths
Learn the top 5 common trademark misconceptions that could cost you time or money, explained quickly and clearly in this short legal insight.
Video6 Feb 2026What WWE’s Raw Vault Trademark Reveals About Future Classic Content Access
Quick breakdown of WWE’s new Raw Vault trademark and what it could mean for classic wrestling content and fans, explained in under a minute.
Video6 Feb 2026Are Trademarks Ready for the Metaverse?
A quick explainer on how trademarks apply to NFTs and the metaverse, covering key legal points brands and creators should know in under a minute.
Video3 Feb 2026Do Not Miss This Six Month Window After Filing Your UK Trademark
If you have filed a UK trademark recently or you are getting ready to file, this is something you need to know. When you…
Video13 Jan 2026Quick update: trademark IPO fees are increasing.
UKIPO trademark fees are increasing in April this year (1st April 2026). If you are planning to file a new trademark application or make…
Video23 Dec 2025Who Owns Christmas? Santa, The Grinch and a Whole Lot More
Who owns Christmas? You might think nobody… but a surprising number of festive favourites are actually trademarked. From Santa Claus to The Grinch and…
Video15 Dec 2025How to respond to trademark infringements
https://youtube.com/shorts/AdUXRJd0u-o?si=qsk_GzsIYOrpJmmj
Video8 Dec 2025David vs Legoliath
What happens when a global giant threatens a take-down… and ends up hiring the very person they targeted? In this episode, we dive into…
Video8 Dec 2025Hitting the Trademark Lottery
You’d think a registered design mark would be all the protection you need. But what happens when your design is copied, passed down the…
Video8 Dec 2025Swim Shady vs Slim Shady
The trouble really began when Australian swimwear brand Swim Shady filed a trademark application in the US, and Eminem quickly announced he was opposing…
Video8 Dec 2025Going on the Offensive
When someone infringes your trademark, or files something suspiciously similar, the instinct is often to dive straight into legal action. But is “going on…
Video4 Dec 2025Ralph Lauren Polo vs Polo SA
A decades-long trademark dispute between Ralph Lauren Polo and Polo South Africa has finally come to an end, and the story behind it is…
Video2 Dec 2025Who's Responsible for your Trademark?
Who’s responsible for your trademark inside your company? You might think the answer is obvious, but too often responsibility is assumed, unclear, or split…
Video29 Oct 2025What Could Spudfather Have Done Differently? The one thing every business should do before starting
One missed step caused a lot of noise online. We look at what Spudfather could have done differently and how a simple trademark check…
Video29 Oct 2025Spud Bros vs Spudfather: The Truth About Trademark Rights and Brand Protection
Let’s cut out the hearsay and focus on the facts. Two small UK businesses, Spud Bros and Spudfather, found themselves at the centre of…
Video28 Oct 2025The Spud War Explained SpudBros vs The Spud Father Trademark Dispute
The Spud War is heating up between SpudBros and The Spud Father and we're breaking it down! We're looking at the facts, who holds…
Video23 Sep 2025How to Protect Your Brand on Social Media
Social media copycats could be hurting your brand right now. From Adele to Elon Musk the biggest names are targeted by fake accounts and…
Video5 Sep 2025The Most Valuable Lesson in Business Leadership
What matters most when leading a long-standing family business? For Atlantic Timber, it is all about people. In this clip, Martin Buckle shares why…
Video3 Sep 2025The Hidden Asset That Can Boost Your Business Value
Could your trademark be the most valuable part of your business? When it comes to selling, scaling or seeking investment, protected intellectual property makes…
Video24 Aug 2025Thought About Starting a Rewards Programme? Watch This First
Many businesses know they need a loyalty or rewards programme but are unsure where to begin. Prosper² helps businesses create tailored strategies that match…
Video21 Aug 2025From Local Shop to National Brand, Why Protecting Your Name Matters
Growing from a small local timber shop to a nationwide supplier brings new opportunities but also new risks. As more customers discover you online,…
Video21 Aug 2025How Atlantic Timber Scaled, Stood Out, and Protected Its Brand
In this episode, we sit down with Martin Buckle of Atlantic Timber to talk about how a local timber supplier became a trusted name…
Video18 Aug 2025The Secret Behind 40 Years of Growth
One of our clients has spent more than four decades growing from a local timber supplier into a trusted name in the construction industry.…
Video14 Aug 2025How Small Businesses Compete When Big Brands Outspend Them
Many small and medium sized businesses do not have the resources for full marketing teams yet still face competition from much larger brands. Prosper²…
Video13 Aug 2025Tired of Limited Loyalty Points? Here’s the Better Option
Most loyalty schemes lock you into specific brands and small perks. Prosper² offers open loop rewards, giving customers complete freedom to spend points on…
Video12 Aug 2025From Struggling for Jobs to Fully Booked: The Power of Referrals
An automotive group of over 30 independent businesses transformed occasional work from fleet managers into a steady flow of jobs using Prosper² rewards. At…
Video10 Aug 2025Why Most Loyalty Programmes Fail to Build Real Loyalty
Most loyalty programmes miss the mark by being complicated or restrictive. In this conversation with Prosper², we reveal a smarter approach that rewards individuals…
Video8 Aug 2025Seventy Percent of Small Businesses Have Loyalty Programmes but Do They Work?
Seventy percent of small businesses run loyalty programmes yet many fail to see real benefits. We explore with Prosper² why so many schemes underperform,…
Video6 Aug 2025If You Work with Referral Partners You Need to Hear This
Working with referral partners can drive powerful growth, but relying on only one is risky. Building a wider network where many partners each send…
Video6 Aug 2025How to Grow Your Business Network (and Get Rewarded)
Entrepreneurs and small businesses thrive on connections. We speak with Prosper² about building a powerful business network, sharing referrals, and rewarding the people who…
Video2 Jul 2025SME Growth Secrets: How Prosper² Drives Loyalty, Rewards & SME Success | The Trademark Helpline
Join Jon as he chats with Hannah from Prosper², a leading business network helping SMEs thrive through innovative loyalty and rewards programmes. In this…
Video26 Jun 2025Think Branding Is Just a Logo? Think Again
Branding is more than just visuals. It's about knowing your business inside and out. In this clip, we talk about how understanding your strengths…
Video24 Jun 2025How to Build a Brand That Actually Works: Branding and Trademark Tips for Small Business Owners
We sat down with Matt and Jen, founders of UK branding agency The Modern World, to explore what it really takes to build a…
Video24 Jun 2025Why Hiring a Junior Could Cost You More Than You Think
Building the right team early on is crucial to your business’s success. Hiring a junior might seem cost effective at first. But the time,…
Video19 Jun 2025The Secret to a Great Business Partnership? It’s All About Balance
In business, the best partnerships are built on balance. Whether it's creative and strategy, design and execution, or big ideas and grounded thinking, complementary…
Video18 Jun 2025If Your Brand Doesn’t Match Your Values, You’re Doing It Wrong
Branding isn’t just about how your business looks. It’s about making sure what you stand for on the inside matches what the world sees…
Video17 Jun 2025Most Brands Get This Wrong Before They Even Launch
Marketing and design are important but only if your brand has a solid foundation. In this clip from our conversation with The Modern World,…
Video16 Jun 2025Why We Told a Client Not to Trademark Yet
Sometimes, the best advice is to hold off. In this case, we didn’t move forward with a trademark because the client needed to define…
Video13 Jun 2025Starting a Business When the Odds Are Against You | Branding, Partnerships & Trademark Tips
Ever felt like the timing was wrong or the support just wasn’t there when launching your business? After 17 years in the agency world,…
Video11 Apr 2025The Secret Behind Unforgettable Super Bowl Ads!
What makes Super Bowl ads so iconic? Celebrities, nostalgia, humour… and trademarks. Without trademark protection, the brands behind these memorable moments wouldn’t be able…
Video8 Apr 2025How The Beatles Protected Their Legacy!
The most iconic band in history, The Beatles, didn’t just change music—they also had to fight legal battles to protect their name and brand.…
Video5 Apr 2025Cole Palmer’s Trademark Move!
Chelsea and England star Cole Palmer has registered two trademarks—one for his name and another as a motion mark for his signature shivering goal…
Video1 Apr 2025McDonald's Loses Exclusive Rights to 'Big Mac'!
Big news in the McDonald's vs. Supermac’s trademark battle! A recent European Court of Justice ruling has decided that McDonald's no longer has exclusive…
Video30 Mar 2025Why Are More Celebrities Trademarking Their Names?
More and more celebrities are trademarking their names—but why? From Rihanna to Kylie Jenner to Kim Kardashian, personal branding has never been more important.…
Video28 Mar 20255 Trademark Myths That Could Cost You!
There are a lot of misconceptions about trademarks, and believing the wrong information could put your business at serious risk. In this video, we…
Video25 Mar 2025Why Graphic Designers Need to Think About Trademarks!
Many graphic designers don’t realise that their work needs to be legally protected. From logos to branding assets, ensuring your designs are trademark-safe is…
Video22 Mar 2025WWE's New Trademark: What It Means for Classic Wrestling Fans!
If you love classic WWE wrestling—Hulk Hogan, Ultimate Warrior, WrestleMania moments—you might not like what’s coming next. WWE has trademarked Raw Vault as a…
Video20 Mar 2025Copyright vs. Trademark: Are You Using These Symbols Illegally?
Do you know the difference between © (Copyright), ™ (Trademark), and ® (Registered Trademark)? Using them incorrectly could lead to legal trouble and fines…
Video19 Mar 2025Ugg Boots: The Story You Didn’t Know!
Thinking about starting a business or launching a brand? You need to understand trademark protection to avoid costly legal issues. In this video, we…
Video3 Feb 2025Are Holograms the Future of Music and Entertainment?
Did you know you can now experience ABBA live in concert via holograms? Recognising the potential of this technology, Liam and Noel Gallagher have…
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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.
