From 1 April 2026, the UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO) will implement a significant increase in official fees for patent, trade mark, and design services.
This marks the first substantial revision of many fee categories in years — trade mark fees haven’t been updated since 1998, design fees since 2016, and patent fees since 2018.
The increases reflect an average rise of around 25 % across the board. For example, a standard patent search fee is set to rise from approximately £150 to £200, and a one class trade mark application fee from £170 to £205.
For rights holders and applicants, this change means it’s worth reviewing your filing and renewal schedules now. Where possible, you may benefit from submitting applications or completing renewals before April to avoid higher costs.
The fee increases form part of a suite of changes to the UKIPO’s ways of working that will take effect across 2026 – including the abolition of “series” trade mark applications and the (expected) launch of its One IPO online platform.
We are also delighted to now offer clients full trade mark services, including assessing and advising on your proposed trade marks, handling the application and registration process on your behalf, and all other trade mark prosecution work. Please get in touch if you would like to discuss further.
