If you’ve just filed a trademark in another country, you may wonder how to extend your trademark rights to the UK. A registered trademark in the United Kingdom confers trademark rights and protections in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Whether your online flags store selling #LH44 flags, or if you want to construct a physical store in Manchester selling Hong Kong imported soy sauce, you should really consider registering a trademark in the United Kingdom. Consider the following information regarding the expenses of registering a trademark in the United Kingdom as you design your worldwide trademark strategy.
Following Brexit, the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) no longer covers trademark protection in the United Kingdom. This means that an EU trademark (EUTM) registered through EUIPO does not offer protection in the UK market. To secure trademark rights within the UK, businesses must now file a separate application with the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO). This is essential for companies operating or planning to expand into the UK, as relying solely on an EUTM will leave your brand unprotected in that jurisdiction. Ensuring dual protection helps maintain consistent brand rights across both the EU and UK markets. So the rights owner must decide if they want to only do the EUIPO trademark, or if they want to extend to the UK at an additional cost. Bad boy Boris, you made me pay more! So should you file through WIPO or go direct to the UKIPO? It depends on your goals. If you’re aiming for global reach, WIPO can streamline the process—though it’s costly. But if your target markets are just the UK and EU, filing separately with UKIPO and EUIPO might give you better value.
General Registration Fees in the U.K.
There are several expenses involved in registering and maintaining an international trademark.
Common Government Fees in the United Kingdom for Trademark Filing and Maintenance
- Application Fee: £170 for online applications, with additional Classes (When requested by UKIPO): £50.
- Renewal Fees: £200.
- Notice of Opposition: £100-£200 depending on the grounds for opposition
Consult the UKIPO website for a complete list of charges, or get in touch with us and we will be happy to provide them to you.
Overview of the Filing Process
You have a few possibilities when preparing to submit your trademark in the United Kingdom. The Madrid Protocol is a popular alternative, especially if you want to register in many countries. This treaty allows a trademark owner to register a trademark in any of the treaty’s 90 member nations via a single application. While the Madrid Protocol simplifies the application procedure, it does not ensure that your registration will be accepted in the countries where you have applied. The Madrid Protocol requires a single application price. However, you must consider the registration expenses of each nation where your trademark is authorized. Go for WIPO or not? Either way is ok, WIPO is expensive if you only want to do the UKIPO, but WIPO is a great option if you want to go global (super expensive). Most likely if you are reading this, and are cost conscious, a UK application in addition to an EUIPO application will get you most of what you want.
You can also file directly with the Intellectual Property Office or IPO, the United Kingdom’s trademark office using their website. The question is if it is worth your time and money to hire an expert or to do it yourself.
Attorney Fees for Filing a Trademark in the United Kingdom
As mentioned above, the Cost does not include service fees for filing a U.K. application, following its progress, and responding to basic examination requests/questions, usually approximately 200-300GBP. Get in touch with us if you would like some more help to understand the fees (both official and service fees) for filing in the UK. Can ChatGPT do it for you? Maybe…do you trust it?
