Brexit split the register
Trademark & Brand Registration in the United Kingdom
An EU trade mark no longer protects you in the United Kingdom. That caught a great many brand owners out.
GCC business setup specialists
The gap Brexit created
Before the UK left the EU, a single EU trade mark covered Britain. It no longer does. Rights that existed before the transition ended were given comparable UK equivalents automatically, but anything filed at EU level since then has no UK effect whatsoever. Brand owners who assume their EU registration still covers Britain are unprotected here, and often only discover it when they try to enforce.
- EU and UK coverage checked, not assumed
- Comparable rights confirmed for pre-transition marks
- Classes scoped for what you actually sell in Britain
20+
Mainland, free zone and offshore jurisdictions we file in — so the recommendation is based on your activity, not on which authority we happen to be registered with.
7,000+
Companies successfully established.
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Check your coverage
What covers the UK and what does not
The transition date is the dividing line.
| Right | Covers the UK? |
|---|---|
| EU trade mark filed before the transition ended | A comparable UK right was created automatically. |
| EU trade mark filed after it | No. A separate UK filing is required. |
| UK national registration | Yes. |
| International registration designating the UK | Yes, if the UK is designated. |
| International registration designating the EU only | No. |
| Unregistered use | Passing off may help, but it is far weaker. |
Classification, examination, publication and opposition procedures are set by the Intellectual Property Office and change. The comparable rights arrangement applied to marks in force at the end of the transition period.
How it works
Closing the gap
Audit first, then fill what is missing.
01
Audit what you hold
Every existing registration checked for whether it actually covers the UK, including the EU and international rights you assume do.
02
File what is missing
UK filings made where there is no coverage, with classes scoped to what you sell in Britain.
03
Prosecute and maintain
Examination answered, publication and the opposition window monitored, and renewal dates tracked separately from your EU renewals.
- The mark exactly as used
- Logo artwork to specification
- Every registration you hold, with filing dates
- Whether any were filed at EU level and when
- Whether international registrations designate the UK
- Full list of goods and services sold in the UK
- Goods or services planned within the year
- Evidence of use in the UK
- Any infringement already encountered here
- Whether you license the brand to others
- Priority claims available
- Renewal dates currently diarised
Scope
What is included, and what is not
Stated plainly, so nothing is added once the engagement starts.
Included in the service fee
- Audit of existing rights for UK coverage
- Confirmation of comparable rights where they exist
- UK register clearance search
- Class scoping for the UK market
- Filing and prosecution to registration
- Examination responses
- Publication and opposition monitoring
- Separate UK renewal diary
Not included, quoted separately
- Registry fees, paid at cost
- Fees per additional class
- EU or international filings, quoted separately
- Foreign counsel fees
- Logo and brand design
- Opposition proceedings, quoted separately
- Enforcement and litigation
- Renewal at the end of the term
Verify independently
Relevant UK authorities
We file directly with these bodies on your behalf.
Companies HouseHM Revenue & CustomsUK Visas and ImmigrationIntellectual Property OfficeInformation Commissioner’s OfficeThe Pensions Regulator
Questions
UK trademark registration — FAQs
Does my EU trade mark still cover the UK?
Only if it was in force at the end of the transition period, in which case a comparable UK right was created. Anything filed at EU level after that has no UK effect.
How do I check whether I have a comparable right?
We audit your portfolio against the UK register. It is a short exercise and it is better done now than during an enforcement attempt.
Do I need a separate UK renewal?
Yes. Comparable UK rights renew independently of the EU mark they came from, and missing that is a common way to lose protection.
Is unregistered use enough?
Passing off offers some protection but is considerably harder and more expensive to rely on than a registration.
Can one application cover the UK and the EU?
Not a single national one. An international registration can designate both, and we advise on whether that suits your portfolio.
Go deeper
More United Kingdom services
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