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.
Free Trademark Search
Run a free trademark name search to check if your brand is available. Instant trademark name lookup across the UK IPO register. Find conflicts before you apply.
FAQ24 Jul 2026How Do I Check If a Name Is Trademarked?
How to check if a name is trademarked: search the UK register and each country you trade in, look for similar names, check your logo and unregistered use.
News11 Jun 2025Trademarking Shapes? – Toblerone’s Triangular Triumph: How a Chocolate Shape Made Trademark History
Let’s be honest, when you think of Toblerone, you aren’t thinking about nougat, you probably are thinking about chocolate BUT you are definitely thinking…
Why should I run a trademark search first?
Honestly, it's the cheapest way to avoid a very expensive mistake. If you spot an existing or similar name before you invest, you can change direction early, rather…
What does a free trademark search actually tell me?
It's an initial screening of the UK Intellectual Property Office register. It brings up the most obvious identical or similar names, so you get a quick, early sense…
What are trademark classes?
Classes set out the goods and services your mark covers. There are 45 in the UK, each with plenty of terms. Two identical names can often sit happily in different cl…
If my trademark search is clear, am I okay to apply for a trademark?
If you're on a budget, it's certainly better than doing nothing. But it's only the first step, not a full trademark clearance audit. We always recommend comprehensive Audit an…
Is a free search the same as a full trademark clearance audit?
Not quite. The free search picks up obvious issues on the UK register. A brand audit goes much wider, covering international registers, Companies House, domains and…
What happens if you spot a potential conflict?
Try not to worry. A similar name isn't automatically a problem. We'll help you work out whether it's a genuine conflict, and where it's appropriate, we can look at a…
FAQ25 Sep 2026Can I use a business name that isn’t trademarked, or one that’s already taken?
The question is not simply whether you can use the name, it is whether you should. Companies House will not normally incorporate a company using the same name as one…
Article23 Jul 2026Should You Check a Name Can Be Trademarked Before You Rebrand?
Why a trademark check before a rebrand saves money: how to test whether a new name or logo can be registered, and what to do before the designer starts.
News15 Jul 2026Trademark Decisions Are Business Risk Decisions: Lessons from 4,176 UK Registrations
After 4,176 UK registrations, one lesson stands out: the best trademark strategy starts with the cost of failure, not the cost of filing. Here is why.
News14 Jul 2026First to File vs First to Use: The Question Every Brand Owner Should Ask After Anthropic v Abnormal AI
Anthropic filed eight months after Abnormal AI and is now fighting for its name in court. Why first to file beats first to use, and how to protect your brand.
Article1 Jul 2026Do DIY Trademark Applications Fail More Often?
Do DIY trademark applications fail more often? What the IPO's own figures show, where self-filed marks come unstuck, and when doing it yourself can work.
News23 Jun 2026AI and Trademarks: A Brilliant Assistant, but a Poor Researcher
One of my team recently flagged something to a local business, a genuinely successful brand, that they were trading with no trademark at all.…
Article15 Jun 2026The Most Expensive Trademark Application Is the One That Fails
People ask me all the time what it costs to register a trademark in the UK. It is a fair question, and I understand…
Brad Mitri, Director, Dracorp
Mark Egan, Director, Riva Beauty Services
Andy Murray, Lifestyle Fitness
Ian Riley, Shower King
John Hicks, Rural Property Watch
Michael Haslam, Fly Repel
Janet Down, Solo
John Roberts, The City Pub Company
Browse by topic
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.
