Trade Marks
Your brand is one of the most fundamental and valuable assets your organisation has.
It’s not just a global identifier, signalling to the world the reputation you’ve built. It’s a reminder to your audience why they rely on you every day for the services or products you offer. It’s the reason people know your organisation and why people repeatedly choose your business again and again. It’s why they’ll never go anywhere else.
Brand protection is how you can secure that lasting place in the market and connect with your audience, converting them into long-term customers and brand ambassadors.
At Panoramix IP, we ensure you have exclusivity for your reputation, brand name and assets. By establishing trade marks for your company, products and services, we help prevent others from exploiting or harming the reputation you’ve built.
From initial trade mark registration, trade mark infringement and trade mark protection, we know how important it is to maintain and protect brand identity, and our team of trade mark specialists ensure that we get the most out of your valuable IP assets.
We review your trade mark potential through an initial intellectual property audit, explore the best solution for you and your organisation, and establish what protection you need most cost-effectively.
With our dedicated team of experts, you’ll have access to a specialist who can directly represent you at the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO), United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and European Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). This means we can support your growth goals no matter which market, domestic or international, you’re looking to expand into while protecting your IP assets.
Allow Panoramix to get the best protection for your intellectual property so we can unlock its maximum potential. Find out more below.
Testimonials
FAQs
How much does it cost to register a trade mark in the UK?
The cost of official fees to register a trade mark in the UK with the United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) starts at £170 for one class of goods or services. If your business covers additional classes, each extra class costs £50. To ensure the best possible chances of your trade mark being accepted, we always recommend speaking with one of our specialist trade mark solicitors for guidance. This would incur additional costs upfront, but strengthen your application and minimise the possibility of rejection and further complications should infringement occur.
For detailed guidance on trade mark registration fees and a full breakdown of costs, visit our Trade Mark Registration page or contact us today.
How long does a trade mark last in the UK?
In the UK, a trade mark lasts for ten years from the date of registration. You can renew your trade mark indefinitely every ten years, provided you continue to use and protect your brand. Renewal can be done six months before the expiry date or within a six-month grace period after the expiry date, although late renewals may incur additional fees.
To receive expert guidance on managing or renewing your trade marks with ease, speak with one of our specialist trade mark solicitors, visit our Trade Mark Services page or contact us today.
Should I trade mark my logo or business name in the UK?
We highly recommend registering a trade mark for your logo or business name in the UK. Registering your trade mark gives you and your business exclusive rights and legal protection against unauthorised use from anyone looking to exploit or profit from your branding through accidental or intentional use. This safeguards your brand identity and reputation from those looking to profit from your rights or negatively impact your brand through association. We assist in registering logos, names, or even slogans separately or in combination, and we offer strategic direction for the best course of cost-effective legal protection for your brand.
Explore your options for protecting your brand on our Brand Protection Services page or by contacting us today.
When should I use the symbols ™ and ® in the UK?
You can use the ™ symbol freely with unregistered trade marks to indicate that you claim ownership of your brand or logo. However, the ® symbol is strictly reserved for marks officially registered with the United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office (IPO), showing others your exclusive rights to that mark. This acts as a signifier to would-be infringers that your brand name, logo and/or slogans are all protected and helps to prevent copying. Should you become aware of any potential infringement, our expert solicitors can advise on the best course of action for your brand.
Learn more about correctly using trade mark symbols on our Trade Mark guidance page or contact one of our in-house trade mark solicitors today.
What cannot be trade marked in the UK?
In the UK, certain words and symbols cannot be registered as trade marks. This includes offensive or misleading marks, purely descriptive terms (like “soft” for pillows), generic words (like “bread”), geographical names (such as “London”), common surnames, and official symbols or flags.
Find out more about trade mark eligibility and restrictions on our Trade Marks page, visit our blog, or book onto one of our FREE 45-minute IP clinics. For more information, give us a call today.
What's the difference between copyright and a trade mark?
Copyright automatically protects original creative works like books, music, and art from the moment they’re created. In contrast, a trade mark protects brand identifiers such as logos, slogans, and names, but it requires official registration to be fully enforceable. If you’re looking for the right kind of protection for your content or your brand, our specialist trade mark and copyright solicitors can help.
Understand which type of intellectual property suits your business needs at our Copyright and Trade Mark information pages, or contact us today.
Can I trade mark a name that is already in use but not registered?
Potentially yes, but it depends on several factors, including whether the existing user has established common-law rights through extensive prior use or if your businesses operate in similar fields. It’s advisable to conduct a thorough clearance search before applying. We offer thorough competitor clearance searches for your brand and proposed trade marks as part of our trade mark registration service.
For more information or to conduct a clearance search with personalised advice, see our Trade Mark Registration services page, or speak with one of our trade mark solicitors today.
What is 'proof of use' for a trade mark in the UK?
Proof of use involves demonstrating your trade mark has been genuinely used in the UK market for the registered goods or services. Typically, acceptable evidence includes invoices, advertising, packaging, or marketing materials clearly showing the trade mark being actively used commercially.
Get professional help gathering suitable evidence by speaking with one of our specialist trade mark solicitors today, or visit our Trade Mark page.
Can common words be trade marked in the UK?
Common words can sometimes be trade marked, but only if they’ve gained a distinctive secondary meaning linked to your business. For instance, “Apple” is a common word but distinctive as a technology brand. Demonstrating acquired distinctiveness is critical for approval. With expert guidance, our team of in-house trade mark solicitors advise on what can and cannot be trade marked for your brand and aids in creating a strategic plan to provide the best protection cost-effectively for your business.
Find out how to build a strong, distinctive trade mark on our Trade Mark page or contact us today.
Do I need a solicitor to register a trade mark in the UK?
While there is no requirement to use a solicitor to register a trade mark in the UK, using a trade mark professional significantly increases your chance of successful registration and helps avoid costly mistakes, especially for complex or multi-class registrations. We often receive enquiries from individuals who have self-registered when their application faces rejection, and they need expert guidance to ensure it is accepted. Time is a critical factor when protecting your brand assets, to dissuade competitors from adopting your logos, slogans or brand names and benefitting from them. When infringement occurs, you also want to make sure you have guidance from a legal expert to advise on how best to face it, whether that be through mediation, negotiation or litigation.
Ensure your registration goes smoothly by contacting our specialists via our Trade Mark Registration page or speaking with one of our specialist trade mark solicitors here.
