# How to Trade Mark a Logo in the UK

Source: https://dijitulmedia.co.uk/guides/how-to-trade-mark-a-logo-uk/
Updated: 2026-10-12

> To trade mark a logo in the UK, check it is not too similar to existing marks, choose your classes of goods and services, and apply to the Intellectual Property Office. Filing online costs £205 for one class plus £60 per extra class (GOV.UK, from April 2026). dijitul designs distinctive, registrable logos from £150 + VAT.

## Key facts

- Apply to the UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO), online or by post
- Online fee: £205 including one class; each extra class £60 (GOV.UK, from 1 April 2026)
- Paper application: £250; renewal every 10 years: £245
- GOV.UK says registration usually takes around 3 to 4 months if nobody opposes
- Goods and services are grouped into 45 classes
- Only use the ® symbol once the mark is registered; ™ can be used any time

## Copyright vs trade mark

Your logo is automatically protected by copyright as an artistic work, but copyright only stops people copying the design. A **registered trade mark** protects the logo as a badge of your business: it gives you the exclusive right to use it for the goods and services you register, and makes it far easier to stop competitors using something similar. Before filing, make sure you actually own the copyright in the logo. Read who owns the copyright in my logo.

## Step by step

- **Check it is registrable.** A trade mark must be distinctive. Purely descriptive words (Best Plumbing), common symbols and generic icons are often refused.
- **Search existing marks.** Use the IPO's free search trade marks service for identical or similar marks in your area of business. A similar logo for similar goods is the most common reason for opposition.
- **Choose your classes.** Goods and services are split into 45 classes. A bakery might need class 30 (bread and cakes) and class 43 (café services). Pick what you do now and plan to do soon.
- **Decide what to file.** A word mark protects the name in any style. A logo mark protects the design as filed, including its colours if shown in colour. Many businesses file both when budget allows.
- **Apply.** File online at GOV.UK and pay the fee.
- **Examination.** The IPO checks the application and sends an examination report.
- **Publication and opposition.** The application is published in the Trade Marks Journal so others can oppose it, normally for two months, extendable to three.
- **Registration.** If there is no successful opposition, the mark is registered. GOV.UK says this usually takes around 3 to 4 months from application.

## UK IPO fees (from 1 April 2026)

The IPO raised trade mark fees on 1 April 2026, the first increase in many years. Current fees on GOV.UK (checked October 2026):

| Fee | Amount |

| Online application, including one class | £205 |
| Each additional class | £60 |
| Paper application, including one class | £250 |
| Renewal every 10 years | £245 |

So a logo filed online in two classes costs £265 in official fees. Legal fees are extra if you use a solicitor or chartered trade mark attorney. Budget for renewal every 10 years; a registered mark can last indefinitely as long as you keep renewing it and using it.

## Designing a logo that registers well

- **Make it original.** Stock icons, template logos and clip art are weak as trade marks because others may use the same elements.
- **Avoid describing the product.** A picture of a tooth for a dentist or a house for an estate agent is common in the sector and hard to rely on.
- **Think about colour.** If your colours are part of what makes the logo recognisable, file it in colour. If you may change colours later, ask an attorney how best to file.
- **Finish the design first.** Changing a registered logo later usually means a new application.

## DIY or professional help?

Many small businesses file their own straightforward UK application online. If your mark is valuable, your market is crowded, or you trade abroad, a chartered trade mark attorney can search more thoroughly, word your specification properly, and handle any objections or oppositions. The Chartered Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys (CITMA) lists members.

After registration, use the ® symbol and monitor for copycats. Using ® on an unregistered mark is an offence in the UK; the ™ symbol can be used at any time to show you treat something as a trade mark.

## When to call dijitul

dijitul designs original, distinctive logos from £150 + VAT, supplied with the vector files you need for an IPO application, and can advise on simple design choices that help registration. We do not file trade marks or give legal advice; this guide is general information. Request a logo quote or see logo design.

## FAQs

### How much does it cost to trade mark a logo in the UK?

The UK IPO charges £205 to file online in one class, plus £60 for each extra class, under fees in force from 1 April 2026 (GOV.UK). A paper application is £250. Renewal is £245 every 10 years. Legal fees are extra if you use an attorney.

### How long does it take to register a trade mark?

GOV.UK says it usually takes around 3 to 4 months from application to registration if nobody opposes. The application is published for opposition for two months, which can be extended to three. Objections or oppositions add time.

### Should I trade mark my name or my logo?

A word mark protects the name in any lettering or style and is often the stronger first step. A logo mark protects the design as filed. If budget allows, file both. If you change your logo later, the word mark still stands.

### Can I use the ® symbol before registration?

No. In the UK it is an offence to use ® or say a mark is registered when it is not. You can use ™ at any time to show you claim the mark as a trade mark, and switch to ® once registration is complete.

### Can my designer register the trade mark for me?

Designers create the logo but are not usually trade mark specialists. dijitul designs registrable logos from £150 + VAT and supplies the files you need, but we do not file applications. You can file yourself on GOV.UK or use a chartered trade mark attorney.

### What classes should I choose?

Choose the classes that cover the goods and services you sell now and expect to sell soon. The IPO's classification guidance and search tool help you find the right terms. Each extra class costs £60 when filing online.

## Prices and contact

Prices (all from, + VAT): Logo design £150; Brand identity pack £395; Business cards or letterhead £75; Flyer or leaflet £95; Brochure £295; Social media graphics pack £99; Photography, half day £295; Photography, full day £495; Product photography £25 per image; Video £695; 2D/3D CAD and design time £45 an hour. All prices are "from" and exclude VAT. Every job gets a fixed price before work starts. Printing, and travel for shoots beyond the Mansfield and Nottinghamshire area, are quoted separately. Contact: https://dijitulmedia.co.uk/contact/ · 01623 650333 · info@dijitul.uk