In the UK, you can apply for word trademarks, graphic trademarks, three-dimensional trademarks, pattern trademarks, color trademarks, sports trademarks, multimedia trademarks and hologram trademarks for words, sounds, logos, colors and their combinations. You can also apply for registration of collective trademarks and certification marks. In addition to filing an application directly with UKIPO, applicants can also register a trademark in the UK through the Madrid Trademark Registration Procedure. If you have filed a trademark registration application in China and file the same trademark registration application in the UK within 6 months, you can claim priority.
1. Trademark authority:
- UK Patent and Trademark Office
- English: Intellectual Property Office, abbreviation: UKIPO
- Website: Intellectual property: Trade marks - detailed information - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
- Trade mark search: Search for a trade mark - Intellectual Property Office (ipo.gov.uk)
2. How to apply for trademark registration:
- Paper submission; electronic submission
3. Trademark registration application language:
- English
4. Documents required for trademark registration application:
- Applicant’s name and address
- List of goods and services
- Trademark pattern
- Wordmark: TXT format
- Graphic trademarks: JPEG, TIFF, GIF, PNG and other formats
- Three-dimensional trademarks: JPEG, TIFF, GIF, PNG, OBJ, STL and X3D and other formats
- Pattern trademark: JPEG, TIFF, GIF, PNG and other formats
- Color trademark: JPEG, TIFF, GIF, PNG and other formats
- Sound trademark: MP3, JPEG, TIFF, GIF, PNG (notation) and other formats
- Sports trademarks: MP4, JPEG, TIFF, GIF, PNG and other formats
- Multimedia trademark: MP4 and other formats
- Hologram trademark: JPEG, TIFF, GIF, PNG, MP4 and other formats
- Proof of payment of trademark application fee
5. UK trademark registration application process:
Trademark examination in the UK only conducts examination on absolute grounds and not on relative grounds. UKIPO will complete the formal examination within 2 weeks after receiving the trademark registration application, notify the applicant of the search results, and then publish the trademark in the trademark journal. During the 2-month opposition period, if no one files an objection, 2 weeks The trademark will then be registered.
6. Trademark cancellation
- If a trademark has not been used for five consecutive years after registration, any third party may file a trademark cancellation request.
7. Trademark objections
- Within 2 months after the trademark is published, anyone can file a legitimate objection to the trademark application for registration.
8. Authorization, validity period and trademark renewal
- No official licensing fee is required. Trademark registration is valid for 10 years from the date of application. Registration is renewable for 10 consecutive years. Application for renewal must be made 6 months before the expiry of the registration validity period. Trademarks can be renewed within six months of the renewal expiry date, provided that the appropriate surcharge has been paid.
9. Average time for trademark authorization
- If the trademark registration goes smoothly, the average time from application to trademark registration in the UK is 3-4 months.
10. Madrid registration
- The time limit for responding to a provisional refusal of a British international registration is 2 months from the date of the refusal by the Office. It is possible to request an extension of the time limit. The language of reply is English. For foreign applicants who are not resident in the UK, it is necessary to appoint a local representative to submit the response. After you file your response to the provisional denial, you have the option of requesting an amendment or appealing the provisional denial.
