Get intellectual property rights: step-by-step
Updated 1 April 2026
© Crown copyright 2026
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/get-intellectual-property-rights-step-by-step/get-intellectual-property-rights-step-by-step
1. Check if applying for intellectual property is right for you
| What intellectual property is |
| Protect your intellectual property |
| You should get advice before you decide to apply. A lot of free advice is available and could save you time and money submitting a meaningless registration. |
| Get help deciding if you need to apply |
2. Check your intellectual property meets the criteria
Trade marks
| You should check that your trade mark meets the rules. Your application will be rejected if it doesn’t and you will not receive a refund. |
| Check trade mark rules |
| Watch a short video about trade marks (2 minutes) |
Patents
| You should make sure your invention is patentable before you start. There are some things you cannot get a patent for. |
| Check patent rules |
| Watch a short video about patents (2 minutes) |
Designs
| Your design must be new. You should check what you cannot register as a design before you apply. |
| Check design rules |
| Watch a short video about designs (2 minutes) |
Copyright
| You get copyright protection automatically - you do not have to apply or pay a fee. You can check what you automatically get copyright protection for. |
| Check how copyright protects your work |
| Watch a short video about copyright (2 minutes) |
3. Check if a similar patent, trade mark or design already exists
| You may not be able to get your intellectual property or you may be challenged if you apply for intellectual property that already exists |
| Search for a trade mark |
| Search for a patent |
| Search for a design |
4. Prepare your application
Trade marks
You need to decide which trade mark classes to apply for
Decide which trade mark classes you need
Patents
A patent application must include a description, claims and an abstract
Prepare your patent application
Designs
You must prepare detailed illustrations of your design
Prepare your design illustrations
5. Apply to protect your intellectual property
| Apply for a trade mark - £205 for a trade mark with one class, £60 for each additional class when applying online |
| Apply for a patent - at least £405 when applying online |
| Apply for a design |
When applying online:
£60 for one design
£85 for up to 10 designs
£110 for up to 20 designs
£135 for up to 30 designs
£160 for up to 40 designs
£185 for up to 50 designs
6. Using your intellectual property
Find out how to benefit from your IP rights in the Using your intellectual property rights guidance.
Warning
You may receive a misleading invoice from a third party that requests payment for a service related to a trade mark, design, or patent. Do not pay them.