How to register your trade mark in the UK
Check if your brand qualifies as a trade mark
Your trade mark must be unique, and must either be:
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words (eg EXXON for petroleum products)
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logos (eg stars for hotel services)
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sounds (eg a ringtone associated with a telecommunications logo)
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colours (eg the colour red for a luxury shoe brand
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a combination of these)
Your trade mark cannot be offensive (eg contain swear words or pornographic images), nor can it describe the goods or services it will relate to (eg ‘Cookies’ for the name of a biscuit brand). It is also important that your trade mark is not misleading (eg use the word ‘organic’ for goods that are not organic).
Check if your trade mark is already registered
You should search the trade marks database before you send your application to check whether anyone has already registered an identical or similar trade mark for the same or similar goods or services.
Trade mark classes represent the goods and services the trade mark will be used on. It is important that you choose categories that best represent the goods and services that you provide, or intend to provide, under your required trade mark. If your mark is used on different products, you may need to file trade marks in multiple classes.
If your trade mark is not distinctive for the class of goods and services you provide, it cannot be registered.
To ensure your mark can be registered, you’ll need to compare it against trade marks already registered.
If:
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your mark is identical to a mark already registered (and for identical goods/services)
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your mark is identical to a mark already registered (and for similar goods/services and likely to cause confusion in the mind of the public)
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your mark is similar to a mark already registered (and for identical/similar goods/services that are likely to cause confusion in the mind of the public), and
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your mark is identical/similar to a mark already registered but the goods/services are different (eg where the mark is ‘famous’), the mark cannot be registered
Apply
Apply to register your trade mark online with the Intellectual Property Office (‘IPO’). You’ll need:
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details of what you want to register (eg a word, illustration or slogan), and
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the trade mark classes you wish to register for, eg class 1: chemicals, or class 43: food and drink services
You can also apply by post.
When registering your trade mark, you must pay the applicable fees. For more information, read How much does a trade mark cost.
Use our Trade mark registration service if you want help registering your mark.
After you apply
Feedback
Once you’ve applied, you’ll get feedback on your application (the ‘examination report’) within 20 days. After that, you will have 2 months to solve any problems (eg you might have to get the consent of the previous rights holder if that person has already registered or applied to register the same or a similar mark).
Publication
If the examiner has no objections, your application will then be published in the trade marks journal for 2 months, during which time, anyone can oppose it.
Registration
Your trade mark will be registered once any objections are resolved and you’ll get a certificate confirming this.
In the event that your application is opposed, you can either:
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withdraw your application
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talk to the person making the opposition
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defend your application
Be aware that you won’t be able to register your trade mark until the matter is settled and you may have to pay legal costs if you want to challenge the opposing party.
Once your trade mark is registered
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make sure you report any changes to your name, address or email address
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you can object to other people’s trade marks, eg if you think they are identical or similar to yours
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you can sell, market, licence and mortgage your trade mark
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your trade mark will last 10 years, and you will be able to renew it after that time
Making people aware of your trade mark
The ‘™’ symbol is used where you haven’t registered your trade mark yet or are in the process of registering your trade mark. Whilst it makes people aware that the trade mark is being used, it doesn’t provide you with automatic rights, as the registration would.
To further protect your trade mark, you should make it clear that it has been registered. This can be done by placing an '®' (registered) mark somewhere prominent around your trade mark or on products using the trade mark. This can only be done once the trade mark has been registered with the IPO or EUIPO.
Although it is not required, you can further protect your mark by providing more detailed information (eg design number and design owner) somewhere less prominent, like in the product description.
Register a trade mark in the EU
You can also register a trade mark in the European Union (EU) through the EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). EU trade marks (EUTMs) registered before the end of the UK’s transition period for leaving the EU (ie registered before 1 January 2021) were converted automatically into ‘comparable’ trade marks in the UK. For more information, read Registering a trade mark in the EU.
For specific information on protecting your trade marks and other intellectual property beyond Europe, see the Government’s guidance.
‘Comparable’ trade marks
Under the Withdrawal Agreement, the IPO created ‘comparable’ UK trade marks for every registered EU trade mark.
Each of these ‘comparable’ trade marks:
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was recorded on the UK trade mark register
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kept its original EU trade mark filing date
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kept its original priority or UK seniority dates
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has the same legal status as if it had been directly registered as a UK trade mark
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is a fully independent UK trade mark (ie it can be assigned, challenged, licensed or renewed separately from the original EU trade mark)
Owners of EU trade marks did not need to file a new application or pay any application fees for the ‘comparable’ trade mark.
For more information, read the Government’s guidance.
UK Address for service
Applicants for new UK trade marks will require a UK, Gibraltar or the Channel Islands address before their application will be considered by the IPO.
Owners of ‘comparable’ trade marks are not required to provide such a UK address for a period of 3 years from 1 January 2021. From 1 January 2024, the IPO will require a UK, Gibraltar or Channel Islands address for service where new contentious proceedings are brought. For more information, visit the Government website.
