UKIPO filing with an initial check and updates through to the certificate
Brand protection · UKIPO
Register your UK trademark with UKIPO
Protect a word mark, logo, or combined mark under UK law. Eteform.com prepares and files with the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO). Service packages start at £300 inc. VAT; UKIPO government fees are charged separately and paid in full to the office. Non-residents can apply — a London address for service is included for official correspondence.
What a UK trademark protects
A UKIPO registration can cover a word mark, a logo (device), or a combined mark — and in suitable cases colours, sounds, or other distinctive signs. Protection runs for ten years from the filing date, then renews. After grant you may use ® on goods and services covered by the registration, license the brand, or sell the mark with the business.
- Clearer UK rights than relying on an unregistered trading name or domain alone — especially if you need to challenge copycats in the United Kingdom.
- A Companies House Ltd name is not a trademark. Filing here protects the brand identity you trade under, not the company number on the register.
- Non-residents can apply. We include a London address for service so UKIPO can send official correspondence on your application.
- Goods and services are grouped in Nice classes. One base class is included in the package scope; extra classes are quoted before we file.
How UKIPO fees work with our service
You see two amounts on every package: the Eteform.com service fee (preparation, search within scope, filing, and status updates) and the UKIPO government fee. We collect both at checkout; the government portion is paid in full to the office — we keep none of it. Examiner objections, third-party oppositions, and appeals sit outside the package and are explained if they arise.
Package totals at a glance
Each package shows the service fee and the UKIPO fee separately. You pay both now; the government portion is passed to the office.
A clearer search before UKIPO fees — partial refund if we advise not to file
Trademark registration process
A typical unopposed UKIPO application moves from filing through examination and a three-month publication window to registration — often around four to six months. Timelines vary; UKIPO decides each case.
Online application
Choose word, logo or combined mark, owner details, and the Nice-class goods or services you will actually use.
Trademark search
We review obvious conflicts with existing marks before filing, within the package scope, and flag clear risks before UKIPO fees where the package applies.
File with UKIPO
If the mark is suitable to file, we prepare the specification, images and owner data, submit to the office, and pay the government fee in full.
Examination report
The examiner checks legal requirements and distinctiveness. Objections, if any, appear here with a deadline — formal responses sit outside the base package unless you buy extra work.
Publication
The application is published so third parties can oppose during the publication window (typically three months).
Registration
If nobody successfully opposes, the mark is registered after publication — protection lasts 10 years from filing, then renewal.
Frequently asked questions
What does the package include?
The service fee covers preparing and filing your mark with the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) for one base class as scoped in the package. The government fee is paid in full to UKIPO — we keep none of it. Examiner objections, third-party oppositions, amendments and appeals are not included.
We explain the steps; you file the response, or we quote extra work.
Will you handle a UKIPO objection?
Not inside the package. We explain the objection, the deadline and the options. Submitting the formal response stays with the mark owner unless you buy extra work.
What if the application is refused?
UKIPO issues a notice with reasons — similarity, lack of distinctiveness, or a procedural issue. You may amend the specification, argue the case, seek consent, or file again. The paid package does not refund after filing, and we do not guarantee the mark will be accepted.
I do not live in the UK. Can I still apply?
Yes. UKIPO accepts applications from non-residents if you have a UK address for service. We provide that correspondence address through our London office for official letters on the application.
How long does registration take?
Typically around 4–6 months if the examiner and third parties raise no objections. Examination, then a three-month publication window, then registration if nobody opposes. That window is typical, not a guarantee.
Registered vs unregistered — what is the difference?
A UKIPO registration gives clearer UK rights and the ® symbol after grant. Unregistered rights rest on use and reputation and are harder to prove. A Companies House company name is not a trademark.
Can I trademark my company name?
Yes if it is distinctive and not the same as, or too close to, an existing mark in the same classes. An Ltd name on the register does not automatically protect a logo or trading name as a trademark.
When should I register?
Once the name and logo are stable, and before heavy marketing spend. Many clients form the Ltd first, then file the mark when the brand is settled.
What if I need protection outside the UK?
A UKIPO mark covers the United Kingdom only. Protection elsewhere needs separate filings with the offices that cover those markets. This page covers the UK route only.
Cancellation and refund policy?
You may cancel before we submit to UKIPO. On Fast Application the service fee is non-refundable once the initial check has started. On Pre-check: if we advise not to file, we refund the service fee minus £50 for the report, and we do not take UKIPO fees unless we file.
After filing there is no refund — even if you change your mind, UKIPO is slow, or the mark is refused. A fresh application is charged in full.
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Related: company name and trademark guide · formation packages · document legalisation