🇬🇧 UK IP Update: UKIPO official fees to rise ~25% on April 1, 2026! 📜⚡
September 30, 2026September 30, 2026

🇬🇧 UK IP Update: UKIPO official fees to rise ~25% on April 1, 2026! 📜⚡

0
In Intellectual Property Rights

Subject to parliamentary approval, the United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) will increase its official statutory fees across trademarks, registered designs, and patents by an average of 25%, effective April 1, 2026. The current, lower fee schedule will remain valid only through March 31, 2026.

Key Highlights & Fee Adjustments

This marks the first major fee revision by the UKIPO in several years, designed to address inflation and fund digital transformation across UK registry operations:

  • Trademarks: Online filing fees for single-class applications will rise from £170 to £205, while paper filings rise to £250. Standard 10-year online renewal fees increase from £200 to £245 for the first class, with additional class fees rising from £50 to £60.
  • Patents: Online search requests will increase from £150 to £200, online substantive examination fees rise from £100 to £130, and online filing fees increase from £60 to £75.
  • Registered Designs: Design application and batch registration fees will see a parallel ~25% baseline increase across electronic submission channels.
  • Immediate Cost-Locking Window: All applications, examinations, and allowable early renewals submitted on or before March 31, 2026, will lock in historical fee structures.

Recommended Budgeting Actions for Brand & Patent Owners

To optimize your UK IP spend prior to the rate adjustments:

  1. Audit & Accelerate Pending UK Filings: Identify all planned UK patent, trademark, and registered design filings and execute them prior to the March 31, 2026 deadline.
  2. Advance Early Renewal Payments: Pay upcoming trademark/design renewals (allowable up to 6 months in advance) and patent renewals (allowable up to 3 months in advance) at current rates.
  3. Streamline Multi-Class Specifications: Carefully review trademark class coverage and narrow goods/services descriptions before higher per-class fees take effect.
  4. Recalibrate Q2 2026 Financial Forecasts: Update internal corporate IP budgets to account for a ~25% operational cost increase on all UK prosecution matters starting Q2 2026.

#ExyIntellectualProperty #UK #UKIPO #Trademarks #Patents #IPLaw #BrandProtection