UK trademark opposition
You have 2 months to oppose a conflicting trademark. Most businesses never find out in time.
Every Friday, the UK IPO publishes new trademark applications. Once published, you have exactly 2 months to file an opposition, or lose your chance.
Check your brand free →What it costs if you miss the deadline
The 2-month opposition window is by far the cheapest time to challenge a conflicting mark. Once it closes, your options become dramatically more expensive.
Opposition (during 2-month window)
Official fee: £200 · ~45% success rate
£5,000 - £15,000
Invalidity application (after registration)
Official fee: £200 · Lower success rate
£15,000 - £30,000
Court action (passing off / infringement)
Official fee: Court fees vary · Uncertain outcome
£30,000 - £100,000+
10-50x more expensive
Challenging a trademark after the opposition window closes costs dramatically more, and success is harder to achieve.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to oppose a UK trademark?+
You have exactly 2 months from the date a trademark application is published in the UK IPO Trade Marks Journal. This period cannot be extended except in limited circumstances by filing a TM7a (notice of threatened opposition), which grants an additional month.
How much does it cost to oppose a trademark in the UK?+
Filing a TM7 opposition notice costs £200 (official IPO fee). However, the full cost of opposition proceedings - including evidence rounds and a hearing - typically ranges from £5,000 to £15,000 in professional fees. This is still far cheaper than cancellation proceedings after registration, which can cost £20,000 to £50,000 or more.
What happens if I miss the trademark opposition deadline?+
If you miss the 2-month opposition window, the trademark will proceed to registration. Your only options then are: (1) apply for a declaration of invalidity (more expensive and harder to succeed), (2) take court action for trademark infringement or passing off, or (3) negotiate directly with the trademark owner. All of these are significantly more costly than opposing during the 2-month window.
On what grounds can I oppose a UK trademark?+
The most common grounds for opposition are: Section 5(2)(b) of the Trade Marks Act 1994 - likelihood of confusion with an earlier similar mark for similar goods/services; Section 5(3) - reputation and unfair advantage; Section 5(4)(a) - passing off based on unregistered rights; and Section 3 grounds including bad faith, descriptiveness, or lack of distinctiveness.
How do I monitor the UK Trade Marks Journal for conflicting filings?+
The UK IPO publishes the Trade Marks Journal every Friday, containing all newly examined trademark applications. You can manually download and search each journal from the IPO website, or use an automated monitoring service like TMGuard that scans every journal and alerts you to potential conflicts with your brand.