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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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,…
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…
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…
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…
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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.
