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 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.
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.
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…
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.
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.
Article15 Jun 2026Proof of Use: What Is It, Why Does It Matter Where Trademarks Are Concerned and can ‘the blockchain’ help?
Unlike domain names, where many people over the years have made a living from buying attractive domain names and then reselling them at a…
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.
News9 May 2025Big News on the Big Mac, Amazon Advice, a WhatsApp Blunder and Bacardi’s Blow
Big news out of Europe. The courts have ruled that McDonald’s no longer has exclusive rights to the name Big Mac outside of beef…
News16 Dec 2024The Supreme Court Ruling: A Game Changer for Overly Broad Trademark Filings
In December 2024, the UK Supreme Court delivered a landmark ruling in the SkyKick v Sky case [2024] UKSC 36, fundamentally reshaping the landscape…
News22 Oct 2024Marvel and DC Lose Trademark on ‘Super Hero’
The End of a Super Era For decades, "Super Hero" was synonymous with characters that Marvel Comics and DC Comics came up with. With…
News26 May 2024Indian Restaurant Chain Dishoom Challenges Trademark Held by London Businessman
Dishoom faces a legal battle over the trademark 'Ruby Murray' with Tariq Aziz, highlighting the importance of Trademark Registration in the UK. This case underscores…
News24 Jun 2021Banksy stripped of trademarks
Anonymous street artist, Banksy, has been stripped of two more trademarks (four in total) for his works because he never intended to commercialise them…
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…
Article9 Jun 2026What Happens If You Register Your Trademark in the Wrong Class?
Registered your trademark in the wrong class? What it leaves unprotected, why you can't add classes later, and how to check and fix the gaps in the UK.
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…
News22 Nov 2024The Katy Perry Trademark Drama: A Surprising Turn
Update, 1 June 2026: The 2024 decision described below is no longer the end of this case. Stage by stage: in September 2008 the…
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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.
