The UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) has announced proposed fee increases averaging 25% across trade marks, patents, and designs, subject to parliamentary approval. These changes would represent the first adjustment for design fees since 2016, for patent fees since 2018, and the first increase for trade mark fees in nearly 30 years.
According to the UKIPO, the revised fee structure is intended to reflect the 32% rise in inflation since 2016 and to manage future cost pressures that cannot be fully mitigated through efficiency measures or the use of reserves. The additional revenue is expected to support continued investment in digital infrastructure and service quality, while ensuring the UKIPO remains among the most competitively priced intellectual property offices globally.
The proposed average increases are:
- Patents: 33%
- Designs: 24%
- Trade marks: 23%
Full guidance is expected to be published in early 2026 to assist rights holders and applicants whose fees may fall due around the implementation period. Current fees will remain in place until 1 April 2026, when the new fee structure is scheduled to take effect, subject to parliamentary approval.
Trade Mark Fee Increase:
Trade mark application fees will rise under the new structure, with the fee for filing a trade mark application online increasing from £170 to £205, whilst paper applications will rise from £200 to £250.
Renewal fees will see also increases across the board – the fee for renewing a trade mark registration will rise from £200 to £245 for both online and paper applications.
Series trade mark applications are also set to increase from £50 to £60. While earlier reports suggested that series applications may be abolished, the proposed fee increase indicates that they are likely to remain in place, at least for the time being. This means applicants wishing to file a series of trade marks will still be able to do so, albeit at a higher cost, reflecting the broader trend of rising UKIPO fees across all trade mark services and we recommend filing sooner rather than later to take advantage of current rates and to account for the potential future phasing out.
Opposition proceedings will become more expensive, potentially leading to more selective or strategic use of opposition proceedings. The fee for filing a notice of opposition based solely on Section 5(1) or 5(2) grounds will increase from £100 to £125, whilst oppositions on other grounds will rise from £200 to £250. Fast track opposition fees will increase from £100 to £125, and the fee for adding grounds to an opposition will rise from £100 to £125.
Applications to start invalidation proceedings will increase from £200 to £250, whilst applications to revoke a mark for non-use or other reasons will also rise from £200 to £250.
The increases in opposition, invalidation, and revocation fees mean that parties seeking to challenge a trade mark, or defend against a challenge, will face higher upfront costs.
The table below outlines the current fees alongside the proposed increases:
Designs Fee Increase:
The upcoming increase in UKIPO fees for registered designs will have a range of implications: higher filing and renewal costs will raise the overall expense of maintaining design portfolios, particularly for businesses with multiple registrations. Companies may respond by filing fewer variations, allowing lower-value designs to lapse. Smaller designers are likely to feel the impact most, potentially relying more on unregistered rights despite their weaker protection. While the change could reduce speculative filings and ease administrative burdens, smaller businesses may adjust their approach to registered protection, which could influence innovation patterns across certain sectors. Rights holders should consider filing or renewing designs (if able to) before the fee increase takes effect, reassess the value of their portfolios, and adjust budgets and IP strategies accordingly.
Patent Fee Increase:
The UKIPO is also set to update the patent fee schedule, with all major fees for patent proceedings set to increase. Notably, the total basic fees for filing a UK patent application, including filing, search, and examination, will rise from £310 to £405. In addition, the revised patent renewal fees will range from £90 to £810, depending on the stage the patent lifecycle.
What this means going forward:
Although UKIPO fees will remain at current rates until 31 March 2026, the proposed average increase of around 25% is likely to affect budgeting and the timing of IP activities. Specifically:
- IP Filing strategy: Consider bringing forward planned applications, searches, and filings to take advantage of current fees before the increase. Early awareness allows you to act proactively and protect your brand while avoiding higher costs. We can help assess the impact on your portfolio and provide tailored fee estimates and timeline options.
- Portfolio management: Review the timing of renewals, recordals, oppositions, and cancellation actions that incur IPO fees to determine whether it makes sense to schedule them before 31 March 2026. Businesses that regularly file trade marks, designs or patents should budget for the potential fee rise. The renewal period opens six months before the renewal deadline for trade marks and designs, and three months in advance for patents.
- Decision making/budgeting: This may affect the decision-making process for both potential opponents and respondents, particularly for smaller businesses or individual applicants as they may need to evaluate the merits of a dispute more carefully before proceeding, particularly in cases where the likelihood of success is uncertain. This could alter the overall landscape of IP related disputes in the UK in regard to filing oppositions and invalidity and/or revocation actions. The same is also true for heavy filers and/or oppositions. Internal budgets for the following year will already have (or will soon have) been set and therefore whilst the increases are not necessarily problematic per se, given the number of filings/renewals/oppositions they may file could mean substantial overall increases. Heavy filers/larger businesses will need to factor higher fees into trade mark enforcement and defence budgets, prioritising key cases or exploring cost-effective strategies where necessary.
The UK IPO has updated its payment guide and deposit account terms. You can view the payment guide here and the updated terms here.
If you have upcoming filings or renewals, now is an ideal time to review timelines and budgets and discuss your IP strategy with your patent or trade mark attorney. Our team at Mathys & Squire are committed to delivering exceptional client support and tailoring services to your specific needs. For any questions regarding the UKIPO’s fee increase or assistance with future IP planning, please contact us.
