UK trademark guides
Straight answers on trademarking a brand in the UK — what it really costs, how to register, and how to check a name first. We're a search tool, not a filing service, so there's no upsell here.
Costs & fees
How much does a UK trademark cost in 2026?
The honest, complete 2026 cost picture — official IPO fees, why 'from £390' isn't what it looks like, and the costs nobody warns you about.
Reviewed June 2026
Searching
How to check if a name is trademarked in the UK (free)
Search the UK and EU registers in seconds, free — plus how to read the results, which class to check, and what a 'clear' result really means.
Reviewed June 2026
Registering
How to register a trademark in the UK (2026)
The full step-by-step — search, classes, filing, examination and the two-month opposition window — plus the timeline and the mistakes that get marks refused.
Reviewed June 2026
Getting started
Should I trademark my business name?
What a trademark actually protects, why your Companies House registration and domain don't, and when it's worth registering — with a free check to start.
Reviewed June 2026
Types of protection
Trademark vs registered design vs copyright (UK)
Three rights, three jobs: a trademark guards your name and logo, a registered design guards how a product looks, copyright guards what you create. Which you need, and what each costs.
Reviewed June 2026
Symbols & basics
TM vs ® — what's the difference, and which can you use?
™ means you're claiming a mark; ® means it's registered — and using ® without registration is a criminal offence in the UK. Which to use, and when.
Reviewed June 2026
DIY vs attorney
Do I need a trademark attorney?
You can file a UK trademark yourself, and many people should. The honest version of when DIY is fine, when an attorney earns their fee, and what each route really costs.
Reviewed June 2026
Monitoring
How to find out if someone's applying for a name like yours
Catch a confusingly similar application while you can still object — using the public register, the two-month window, and free IPO alerts.
Reviewed June 2026
UK & EU
UK vs EU trademark after Brexit
An EU trademark stopped covering the UK in 2021. What happened to existing EUTMs, why protecting both now means two filings, and how to check both registers before you do.
Reviewed June 2026
Protecting your brand
Trademark scam letters and fake invoices: how to spot them
Why applicants get official-looking fake invoices, the red flags that give them away, and exactly what to do (and who to report to) if one lands.
Reviewed June 2026