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
News28 Apr 2026Scam Warning – Distinction Law, have you received a letter?
Learn how to spot a trademark infringement scam, trademark renewal scam, or patent & trademark office scam. Real UK examples of trademark scam letters and how to pro…
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.
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.
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.
Article3 Jul 2026Does Your Trademark Cover AI Now Your Business Uses It?
Does your trademark cover AI now your business uses it? Using AI vs selling AI, which classes cover AI software and services, and a simple check to run.
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.
News25 Jun 2026Scam Warning: Alethea Law Trademark Website, Possible Impersonation Scam?
A client has recently brought another trademark related website to our attention. This one is slightly different from some of the other examples we…
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…
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.
News31 Mar 2026OMPS Trademark Scam Warning – Have you received a Trademark publication letter?
Learn how the OMPS trademark letter scam targets UK businesses with fake trademark publication invoices and misleading UKIPO-style correspondence. Discover the warni…
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.
Article27 Jan 2026UK Trademark vs EU and International Trademarks: Understanding the Differences and Avoiding Costly Mistakes
Understand the differences between UK, EU and international trademarks, and learn how to avoid costly filing mistakes that leave your brand unprotected.
News22 Jul 2025VPS Trademark Scam Warning: Have you received a VPS trademark publication letter?
Learn how the VPS, WPS and TPS trademark letter scam targets UK businesses with fake trademark publication invoices using real UKIPO trademark details. Discover the…
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…
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.
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.
Article30 Jul 2026Can You Update a Trademark When Your Business Changes?
Can you update a trademark? You cannot add goods or services to a UK registration. When a business change needs a new filing, and why an annual review helps.
Article28 Jul 2026Should You Trademark a Product Name as Well as Your Business Name?
Should you trademark a product name as well as your business name? What Coca-Cola's SPRICY filing shows, which names to protect and when to file in the UK.
Article16 Jul 2026How Should You Word a Trademark Specification?
How to word a trademark specification: clear goods and services terms, the IPO's approved wording, overbroad claims after SkyKick, and the steps to file.
FAQ9 Jul 2026TM or ®: Which Trademark Symbol Can You Use?
Which trademark symbol can you use? ™ is fine from day one, ® only once registered. Why misusing ® is an offence under section 95 of the Trade Marks Act 1994.
News9 Jul 2026Scam Warning: Knighton Legal Services – Have You Received a “Legal Notice on Business Name and Domain Conflict”?
Received a “Legal Notice on Business Name and Domain Conflict” from Knighton Legal Services? Here’s why this trademark scam email works and what to do.
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 2026Scam Warning: Trademark Center UK, Have You Received A “United Kingdom Brand Registration Profile” Email?
Have you received an email from Trademark Center UK claiming another party is about to register your brand? Read our warning before you reply, call or pay.
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…
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.
News9 Jun 2026How a Trademark Dispute Turned Into a £322,000 Costs Bill
A UK trademark dispute cost £322,000. Discover why enforcement escalated, the risks of cease-and-desist letters, and how to protect your brand and budget.
Article8 Jun 2026Can a Brand Name Become Too Generic to Protect?
A generic trademark can be revoked in the UK. How brands like Escalator and Aspirin became everyday words, and how to stop the same happening to your name.
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.
Article5 Jun 2026Can You Stop Somebody Bidding On Your Brand Name In Google Ads With A Trademark?
Can you stop a competitor bidding on your brand name in Google Ads? How trademark infringement, passing off in the UK & registering a trademark protect you.
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.
Article11 May 2026Care of Address for Trademarks: It Is Not Just Mail Forwarding
When you file a trademark, your application details will become publicly available on official trademark registers. Depending on who is applying, this will include…
News3 Apr 2026When Big Brand Enforcement Fails: What the Easygroup v Easyfeetstore Ruling Means for SMEs
easyGroup's claims against Easyfeet dismissed. Learn what this ruling means for SMEs facing big brand trademark enforcement and how to protect your brand.
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…
Article21 Oct 2025How to Remove Fake Social Media Accounts and Why Trademarks Make It Easier
Fake social media accounts are now one of the biggest online threats to businesses and influencers. From Instagram and TikTok to Facebook and LinkedIn,…
News14 Oct 2025We Got a 1 Star Review… You Won’t Believe Why
It’s not every day you get a one-star review for something you didn’t even do. But this is exactly what happened to us last…
News11 Jun 2025When Ugg Isn’t Just a Brand and What the Famous Boot Taught Us About Trademarks and Geography
https://youtube.com/shorts/wShIXO81bgM?feature=share Say “Ugg” in the UK and you’ll picture the classic tan boots, trademarked, well marketed, and sold by the UGG br…
Article6 Dec 2024Damien Hirst’s NFT Experiment: Digital Art vs. Physical Art
Damien Hirst who owns several trademarks worldwide including ‘his name’, ‘Spot Paintings’ and ‘Spin Paintings’, shook up the art world with his groundbreaking project,…
Article6 Dec 2024Navigating Trademark Issues in the NFT World
When we talk about Non-Fungible Tokens (NFT’s) we are essentially talking about the world of digital art and assets, 2021 marked a revolutionary change…
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…
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…
Article20 Sep 2024Social Media, Accounts and Handles, Who’s Enforcing Them?
Social media accounts and handles have become essential to any brand with the advancement of the digital world. More and more businesses are using…
Rame Consulting Limited
Fleur Cushman, Director, Curranz
Mike Smith, Director, Trinity Homecare
Angus Norris, Managing Director, Ruggerbeez
Alastair Brown, Development Director, Organico Realfoods
Article24 May 2024Client Success Story: How We Protected Westtek’s Brand
Discover how our trademark services helped Westtek, a leader in cybersecurity and IT support, secure their brand through proactive trademark registration, monitoring…
News31 Jan 2024Stern Young & Partners Trademark Letter: Have you received a trademark renewal letter?
We have recently seen another type of trademark letter being sent to UK trademark owners, this time from a business using the name Stern…
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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.
