Filing intellectual property in the United Kingdom
Since Brexit, an EU trade mark no longer covers the UK: Great Britain and Northern Ireland require a separate UKIPO filing. The UK is first-to-file, English-language, and one of the fastest major registries.
- Office
- UKIPO
- Language
- English
- Local currency
- GBP
- Opposition
- 2 months from publication, extendable to 3 months on notice of threatened opposition
- Term
- 10 years from filing
- Renewal
- Every 10 years; 6-month late renewal with surcharge
Fees & timelines by right
| Right | Official fee | Our fee | All-in | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trade Mark / Brand Name | $170 | $279 | $449 | 4–6 months |
| Service Mark | $170 | $279 | $449 | 4–6 months |
| Trade Name / Business Name | $20 | $99 | $119 | 1–5 days |
| Patent | $310 | $1,490 | $1,800 | 24–48 months |
| Utility Model / Petty Patent | Not available — UKIPO operates no registry for this right | |||
| Copyright | $0 | $99 | $99 | n/a — automatic on creation |
| Industrial Design | $50 | $420 | $470 | 2–4 months |
| Geographical Indication & Collective Marks | $0 | $890 | $890 | 9–18 months |
| Trade Secret & Confidentiality Programme | $0 | $590 | $590 | 2–4 weeks to implement |
Indicative single-class / single-application rates in USD. Your live quote confirms the exact amount before payment.
Who can file & on what basis
- Direct national application with the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO)
- Madrid Protocol designation of the United Kingdom
- Convention priority within 6 months of a first filing
Local agent: No UK attorney is required, but a UK/Gibraltar/Channel Islands address for service is mandatory. Ascen Mark provides one.
What we need from you
Requirements
- Applicant name and address
- Address for service in the UK, Gibraltar or the Channel Islands
- Clear representation of the mark
- Goods/services by Nice class, with a bona fide intention to use
Documents
- Logo file for figurative marks
- Priority document, if claiming a foreign priority date
- Evidence of acquired distinctiveness where the mark is descriptive
- Signed authorisation for the appointed representative
Affidavits, resolutions & authorities
Executed papers this office expects — who signs them, how they must be witnessed, notarised or legalised, and the deadline for lodging them.
Address for service in the UK, Gibraltar or Channel Islands
UKIPO requires a local address for service; our UK agent supplies it. No POA is needed.
- Execution:
- Signed by the applicant (scan accepted)
- When:
- At filing (mandatory for contentious matters)
- Applies to:
- All IP types
Statement of inventorship and right to grant (Form 7)Patents Form 7
Names the inventors and explains how the applicant derived the right to the patent.
- Execution:
- Signed by the applicant (scan accepted)
- When:
- Within 16 months of the priority date
- Applies to:
- Patent, Utility Model / Petty Patent
Witness statement / statutory declaration for evidence rounds
Signed statement of truth with exhibits, in the format required by the UKIPO Tribunal Practice Notice.
- Execution:
- Signed before a witness
- When:
- Only in opposition or non-use proceedings
- Applies to:
- Trade Mark / Brand Name, Service Mark, Trade Name / Business Name, Geographical Indication & Collective Marks
Formality requirements change and are applied at each registry's discretion. This checklist is preparation guidance, not legal advice — your appointed local agent confirms the final list before filing.
How the filing runs
- 1
Clearance
UKIPO register search plus unregistered passing-off checks.
- 2
Filing
Online filing; £170 for the first class, £50 per extra class.
- 3
Examination
Usually within 2–3 weeks; objections carry a 2-month response window.
- 4
Publication
Accepted marks publish for a 2-month opposition period (extendable to 3).
- 5
Registration
Certificate issues; term is 10 years from the filing date.
Use, renewal & status tracking
Use requirement
Vulnerable to revocation for non-use after 5 years from registration.
Registry status sync
UKIPO status data is retrieved on request; verified updates are recorded in your audit trail by the case team until the live connector is switched on.
Common pitfalls
- Assuming an EU trade mark still covers the UK — it does not for filings after 1 January 2021
- Descriptive or laudatory marks are refused under section 3(1)
- Missing the 2-month examination response deadline abandons the application
Ready to file in United Kingdom?
Run a free name check first, or start a filing with a fixed quote.
This guide is general information about United Kingdom procedure, not legal advice. Official source: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/intellectual-property-office