How to File a Trademark Application in UK

Applying for your trademark using Trademarken

The first step is deciding on your trademark. Once you have settled on a trademark that you would like to use, Trademarken can assist you in applying for both word and logo trademarks.

If you are applying for a logo trademark, consider also applying for a word trademark for the words in your logo. If these words are distinctive, a registration of the words will broaden the scope of your trademark protection.

Similarly, if you apply for a word trademark, consider simultaneously applying for an image trademark. The image trademark may come in handy where your word trademark is rejected for not being distinctive.

When you apply for a trademark, Trademarken will search hundreds of thousands of trademarks to identify any trademarks that may cause problems for your trademark during examination. Trademarken takes into account your trademark goods and services, and only returns trademarks that are relevant to your goods and services. If there are any potentially similar trademarks identified by the Trademarken searching software, you can make an objective decision as to whether the potentially similar trademarks are in fact similar to your trademark. If you believe that there is a close similarity, you may decide to amend your trademark, or perhaps pursue different classes or goods and services altogether. Alternatively, if you don’t think there is any similarity, you may decide to continue regardless.

Trademarks are registered according to one or more goods and services. These goods and services are divided up into 45 classes for convenience. As such, when applying for a trademark, you must choose one or more classes for your trademark application. Trademarken will automatically select the correct classes for your application depending on your goods and services. Note that while having your trademark registered on many classes may increase your scope of protection, there is the downside that your trademark application may overlap with an existing trademark, is more expensive as a government fee is payable per class and one or more classes may be removed by petition from another on the grounds that you are not using your trademark in one or more of your chosen classes.

Specify the trademark applicant details

Once you have configured your trademark, you must specify details of the trademark applicant. Note that the details of the application will be published in due course, so if you don’t want to have your street address published, consider using a PO Box number, for example.

You must also specify an address for service. This is the address to which official correspondence in relation to your trademark is sent. The address for service can be the same as the address of the applicant, or it may be different. However, in any event, the address for service must be in UK. If you don’t have an address for service in Australia, consider using the Trademarken managed option, where our address in UK will be used.

Application lodged

Once you application has been received by us, we will prepare the necessary paperwork to get your application filed. If you have chosen the managed option, a trademark Consultant will review your application and make any suggestions if necessary. Your application will then be lodges with the trademark office.

In due course your application will be examined and if there are no objections found, your trademark will be registered. Conversely, if one or more objections are found, an examination report will issue to which you can respond.

Note that a government fee is payable upon registration of your trademark.

Last modified:03/10/2013