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A trade mark protects your brand — a name, logo or slogan that tells customers the goods or services are yours. Unlike copyright, you do register it, and you can do that yourself.
First: search before you apply
Use the IPO’s free trade mark search to check no one already has the same or a confusingly similar mark for similar goods or services. Applying over the top of an existing mark wastes your fee and invites an opposition.
The steps (and the form)
- Choose your classes. Goods and services are grouped into 45 “classes”. You pay per class, so pick the ones that genuinely cover what you sell.
- Apply using Form TM3 online — your mark, your classes, and your details.
- Examination. The IPO checks your application and sends an examination report; you respond to any objections.
- Publication & opposition. Your mark is published for a two-month period in which others can oppose it.
- Registration. If no one successfully objects, your mark is registered — usually around three to four months from filing.
What it costs — and how long it lasts
From about £200 online for one class, plus roughly £50 for each additional class. Check the current amounts on the IPO’s trade mark fees. Once registered, a UK trade mark lasts 10 years and can be renewed every 10 years for as long as you use it — potentially forever.
DIY vs an attorney
An attorney typically charges several hundred pounds on top of the IPO fee for a single mark. For a straightforward brand name in one or two classes, many businesses file themselves. If your mark is borderline, or you’re entering a crowded market, that’s the point worth a one-off professional view.
It’s your brand — the tools to protect it yourself, for the price of the fee.
Not sure which protection you need? See our overview: Patent vs Trademark vs Copyright vs Trade Secret →
Last reviewed: June 2026 · For use in England & Wales. eLitigant is a Community Interest Company (No. 16566612), not a law firm, and does not give legal advice. Always confirm current rules and fees on gov.uk.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
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