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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Article28 Oct 2025How to Spot Trademark Scams Before They Cost You
Update — August 2026: Companies House and the IPO have issued a joint warning, and the scam has widened Since this article was published,…
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.
Article28 Aug 2024What is Trademark Trolling?
Trademark trolling refers to the practice where individuals or entities exploit the trademark system by registering trademarks, often on common or generic terms, with…
Article28 Aug 2024Paul Dell vs Dell Inc: A Trademark Dispute
The trademark dispute between Dell Inc., the global technology giant, and Paul Dell, a British entrepreneur, centres around the use of the "Dell" name.…
Article23 May 2024Urgent Notice for Clients of IPOA Ltd
This matter first came to our attention after we were contacted by a former client of IPOA Limited whose trademark had missed its renewal deadline.
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.
Article17 Sep 2026Who Should Own a Trademark: You or Your Company?
Should you or your company own the trademark? Learn how personal, company, holding company and joint ownership affect control, licensing and sale.
Article17 Sep 2026Trademarks When Selling or Buying a Business
A buyer isn’t just buying your sales and customer list, they’re buying the right to keep trading under your brand. What to check before a sale, on either side.
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.
Article2 Sep 2026If Your Business Partner Walked Tomorrow, Who Owns the Brand Name?
Whoever is named on the register owns the trademark, not whoever built the brand. What happens when a co-founder leaves, and how to fix ownership before it matters.
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.
Article20 Aug 2026Can a Trademark Be Split in Two? What a Dead GUINNESS Registration Shows About Brand Ownership
One GUINNESS registration became two, owned by different Diageo companies, with the 2001 filing date intact. How partial assignment works and when it matters.
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.
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.
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.
Article11 Aug 2026Do You Need a Trademark Before You Franchise Your Business?
Do you need a trademark before you franchise? Why the franchisor needs to own the brand, how franchisee licences work, and five checks to run before you sell.
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Oppositions, cancellations, cease and desist letters and online takedowns.
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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.
