Is your trade mark already registered?

If there are other marks on our register that:

• Look the same as (or similar to) yours, for the same (or similar) goods or services, or
• Sounds the same as (or similar to) yours for the same (or similar) goods or services

we will inform you of such earlier marks as part of the examination process. You will then have to decide whether to withdraw your application or allow it to be advertised in the Trade Marks Journal. At this point we will notify the proprietors of all of these earlier marks that your application has been advertised. Once advertised all applications are subject to an opposition period in which third parties may oppose your application.

Please note that should you oppose any opposition the losing party may be liable for costs. With this in mind you may wish to search our database before you file your application.

Searching our database

You can search our trade marks database free of charge online. You will be able to see if your trade mark is already registered.

You should however note that this service has not been designed as a comprehensive trade mark search facility and should not be used to determine conclusively whether a conflicting trade mark already exists. Our examiners will conduct a thorough search of all existing trade marks when they examine your application.