WHAT COUNTS
Logos, words, sounds
A trade mark can be words, sounds, logos, colours or a combination. It must not simply describe the goods or be too common to stand out.
Check an ideaWHAT THE RULES SAY
From doodle
to trade mark.
A logo can be more than a picture.
10 YEARS then renew
45 classes Classes of goods and services
- Be distinctive
- Pick your classes
- Earn the ®
- The basics, from GOV.UK
Register it as a trade mark and it becomes a protected sign for your goods or services. GOV.UK says it usually takes 3 to 4 months, costs at least £205 and lasts 10 years before renewal.
THE SHORT ANSWER
Distinctive, classified
and renewed.
A registered trade mark protects a sign for chosen goods or services.
Here is what GOV.UK says matters most.
THE ® SYMBOL
Only once registered
Once registered you can put ® next to your mark. Falsely claiming a mark is registered is an offence under the Trade Marks Act 1994.
Why it matters
CLASSES
Protection by category
Goods and services fall into 45 classes. An online application costs £205 including one class, plus £60 for each extra class.
See the numbersA QUICK LOGO CHECK
Could this logo
be registered?
Pick a kind of logo idea to see what GOV.UK's rules say. The bar shows how likely the idea is to run into trouble.
Based on GOV.UK guidance on what you can register as a trade mark. This is general information, not legal advice.
FOUR STEPS TO THINK THROUGH
Before the
application.
None of these costs anything. They are the questions GOV.UK's guidance raises before you pay a fee.
Make it distinctive
Avoid words that describe your product, common shapes and generic outlines of what you sell.
Check for look-alikes
A mark the same as or similar to another business's mark for the same goods or services may not be registrable.
Choose the right classes
Cover what you plan to offer over the next 5 years. Clothing is class 25, but handbags are class 18.
Diary the renewal
Registration lasts 10 years. Renew on time to keep the mark in force.
TWO NUMBERS WORTH KNOWING
Forty-five classes,
ten-year terms.
One figure on how protection is divided,
one on how long it lasts.
45 classes
Classes of goods and services
The Nice classification groups goods into 34 classes and services into 11. From 1 April 2026 an online application costs £205 including one class, and three classes cost £325.
CLASSES · GOV.UK
10 years
How long a registration lasts
A UK trade mark lasts 10 years and must be renewed every 10 years to stay in force. Online renewal costs £245 for the first class plus £60 for each extra class.
TERM · GOV.UK
GOV.UK also notes that a registration can be revoked if the mark is not used for 5 years, so choose classes for goods or services you intend to offer.
COPYRIGHT AND THE ®
Two kinds of
protection.
Copyright is automatic in the UK: you do not have to apply or pay a fee, and there is no register. It covers original artistic works such as illustrations. A trade mark is different: it is registered, and it protects a sign for the goods or services you choose.
Using the word "registered", or a symbol that implies registration, for a mark that is not registered in the UK counts as claiming it is. Under section 95 of the Trade Marks Act 1994, doing that knowingly is an offence that can bring a fine.
Questions
Questions people ask
Can a logo be a trade mark?
Yes. GOV.UK lists words, sounds, logos and colours, or a combination of these, as things a trade mark can include.
How much does it cost to register a trade mark in the UK?
At least £205. From 1 April 2026 an online application costs £205 including one class, and each extra class costs £60.
How long does registration take?
If there are no issues, GOV.UK says it usually takes around 3 to 4 months from application.
When can I use the ® symbol?
Once your trade mark is registered. Falsely representing that a mark is registered is an offence under section 95 of the Trade Marks Act 1994.
Is my logo protected by copyright anyway?
Copyright protection is automatic in the UK for original artistic works such as illustrations, with no register. A registered trade mark adds protection for the sign in your chosen classes of goods or services.
Where the facts come from
Updated