Trademark protection in the UK

The UK Intellectual Property Office has announced that fees across its patents, trademarks and registered designs services will rise by an average of 25% from 1 April 2026, subject to parliamentary approval.

Premier Inn has successfully defended a trademark infringement case brought by easyGroup concerning the use of the phrase ‘rest easy’, highlighting the limits of trademark protection where commonly used language is involved and reinforcing the importance of context and consumer perception in brand disputes. 

The recent SKE v BB Crystal Bar trademark dispute in the UK emphasises the importance of robust and relevant evidence when seeking to establish goodwill, as Farhan Kazi explains.

As consumer appetite for healthy and functional alternatives grows, trademark applications for healthy food branding have spiked. However, there is a limit to the health and nutrition benefits you can claim in a food or drink trademark. Discover how consumer trends translate into healthy food branding, food trademark applications and IP in the food industry.

With many interrelated legal and commercial risks to negotiate and overcome, establishing an efficient and effective brand development strategy is easier said than done. Watch our recent webinar for practical insights on how to mitigate and manage legal and commercial challenges in a cost-effective and commercially focused way. 

In our 7 March webinar on IP and packaging, our experts explained how to use trademarks, designs and copyright to protect packaging visuals and messaging, and tackle IP infringement and counterfeiting.