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The manual of trade marks practice sets out guidance on the Intellectual Property Office work practices.
Examples of unacceptable trade marks around protected emblems, internet domain names and your company name.
To protect your trade mark outside of the UK, you usually need to apply in each country you want protection in.
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.
Intellectual property can be bought, sold or licensed.
Benefit from your trade mark by licensing, mortgaging, selling, transferring ownership, merging and exploit by marketing.
Ownership of copyright works may depend on the circumstances under which the work was created.
Section last updated: July 2023.
The principal legislation on copyright can be found in the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
The Trade Marks Act 1994 make up part of the trade mark legislation in the UK.
Guidance for copyright owners on how to grant a licence for, sell or market their work.
Sections (14.01 - 14.209) last updated: January 2026.
Licensing bodies and collective management organisations can agree licences with users on behalf of owners and collect any royalties the owners are owed.
Sections (18.01 - 18.99) last updated: April 2026.
Guidance for business: setting out how the new patents, trade marks and designs fees will apply
Sections (3.01 - 3.101) last updated: January 2025.
The Patents Act 1977 is the main law governing the patents system in the UK.
Information on paying by card, bank transfer, deposit account or cheque.
Finding the right advice and advisor is the first step in making the best decisions for your invention or business.
The Intellectual Property Office offers different methods of accelerating the processing of your patent application.
Don’t include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details.
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