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You may receive a misleading invoice that requests payment for a service related to a trade mark, design, or patent. Here's some information and guidance on what to do.
Licensing bodies and collective management organisations can agree licences with users on behalf of owners and collect any royalties the owners are owed.
Examples of unacceptable trade marks around protected emblems, internet domain names and your company name.
The principal legislation on copyright can be found in the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
Ownership of copyright works may depend on the circumstances under which the work was created.
Benefit from your trade mark by licensing, mortgaging, selling, transferring ownership, merging and exploit by marketing.
Sections (3.01 - 3.101) last updated: January 2025.
List of design forms and fees.
Sections (18.01 - 18.99) last updated: October 2025.
Intellectual property can be bought, sold or licensed.
We have a number of options for you to submit your documents.
The Patents Act 1977 is the main law governing the patents system in the UK.
The Manual of Patent Practice explains the Intellectual Property Office's practice under the Patents Act 1977.
Sections (2.01 - 2.41) last updated October 2025.
How to get permission to copy a creative work for which the right holder(s) cannot be found ie an orphan work.
The Trade Marks Act 1994 make up part of the trade mark legislation in the UK.
The Trade Marks Rules 2008 set out the detailed procedures under the Trade Marks Act 1994, and came into force on 1 October 2008.
Check the availability of, and any issues affecting, our services.
This guide provides information on how design applications are examined in respect of national applications filed at the UK Intellectual Property Office.
Includes chapters on applications, modification, priority and convention claims, illustrations and disclaimers.
Don’t include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details.
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