UKIPO to raise fees and tighten trademark rules
The UK Intellectual Property Office will increase official fees for trade mark filings, renewals, and disputes from 1 April 2026, marking the first across-the-board rise in five years. The changes also include the end of a practice allowing brand owners to protect multiple mark variations under a single registration.
Every new application, class addition, renewal, opposition, or cancellation will cost more after April. Officials confirmed the cumulative effect on an active portfolio—particularly one spanning multiple classes—will be significant.
The office will abolish series trade marks within 18 months. These currently permit applicants to register up to six variations, such as different typefaces or colors, for one fee. Each variation will soon require a separate filing, raising costs but streamlining examination and reducing disputes over validity. Brand owners using this mechanism should submit any remaining series applications before the deadline.
Bad faith: A tightened threshold
A 2024 UK Supreme Court ruling in Sky Ltd v SkyKick UK Ltd altered how examiners assess applications. The court determined that marks filed with overly broad specifications—where the applicant lacked genuine intent to use the mark across all claimed goods and services—could be invalidated for bad faith.
Digital access and public transparency
The UKIPO is introducing a unified search tool, One IPO Search, which launched for patents in January 2025 and will expand to trade marks and designs later this year. Examination reports and submissions will also become publicly accessible online, subject to confidentiality requests, requiring applicants to draft filings more carefully.
A mediation pilot for unrepresented parties will aim to resolve trade mark disputes more efficiently and cost-effectively.
Brand owners should audit existing series registrations, identify assets requiring multi-variant protection, and adjust filing budgets accordingly. Specifications should be reviewed for overly broad terms. Budgeting for higher fees is also essential, particularly for portfolios with multiple classes or frequent renewals.
The reforms indicate a move toward greater transparency. The UKIPO has set a clear deadline for the abolition of series marks within 18 months.
