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.
Article30 Jun 2021Bass, the UK’s oldest trademark
The story behind the UK's oldest trademark, Bass beer.
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.
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.
Article23 Sep 2026Can You Protect Your Brand Abroad Later? How the Trademark Priority Period Works
How the trademark priority period works: file in the UK first, then take six months to file abroad and keep your original date. Apple's iPhone Duo shows how.
Article28 Aug 2026The Name Was Free at Companies House. Does That Mean I Can Use It?
A Companies House check only confirms no other company holds that exact name. It does not check the trademark register. How to find out if a name is really free.
Article26 Aug 2026Someone in Another Country Is Using My Brand. Can I Stop Them?
A UK trademark is a territorial right and stops at the border. What you can do when a business overseas uses your name, and where you should be registered.
Article17 Aug 2026Can Someone Steal My Business Name?
Yes, someone can register your business name as a trademark even if you have traded for years. Here is how first-to-file works in the UK and how to protect your name.
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.
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.
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.
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…
Article25 Mar 2026What is the Madrid Protocol, and does it work?
Thinking about international trademark registration? Learn the pros and cons of the Madrid Protocol and why local filing can offer better protection across global ma…
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…
Article11 Jun 2025Acquired Distinctiveness, How Can It Help You Register a Trademark?
What do American Airlines, British Airways, Holiday Inn & Vision Express all have in common? They are all descriptive names and all have trademarks.…
Article5 Jun 2025Hints, Tips and Tales #13: When a Design Trademark Is Just as Powerful as a Patent
My neighbour reminded me of something the other day that, if I’m honest, I’d completely forgotten. That moment when a design trademark can be…
Article9 May 2025International Branding 101: A Lake Como Lesson
Whilst I was in Lake Como this weekend for my cousin’s stunning wedding, I spotted this in a vending machine on the street. Yes,…
Article16 Dec 2024Milk, It’s Not a Trademark – And Would You Want It to Be?
If someone had trademarked the term “Milky Taste” 20 years ago, they’d be creaming it now (excuse the pun)! And this is why… A…
Article6 Dec 2024Protecting Your Brand in the Virtual World of NFTs
As non-fungible tokens (NFTs) continue to revolutionise the digital landscape, protecting your brand in this virtual space has never been more critical. NFTs can…
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 2024MetaBirkins: A Case Study in Trademark Disputes with NFTs
If you read our article Navigating Trademark Issues in the NFT World you’ll know that NFT’s and the rights and obligations to their creation,…
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 &…
Article28 Aug 2024What Protection Does a Name on Companies House Provide?
As a Trademark Registrar who has been in business since 2009 it still amazes us how many times, we encounter seasoned business owners with…
Article28 Aug 2024Who are, the Intellectual Property Office?
The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) is the official government body responsible for intellectual property (IP) rights in the United Kingdom. As an executive agency…
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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.
