Applying for, and Maintaining Registration of a Mark
You should apply for registration of a trade mark to the UK Intellectual Property Office under one or more of 45 classes of goods and/or services. The application will be examined to check that the intended mark is registerable. If the examiner at the Intellectual Property Office objects to your application, you have a chance to put forward your case why the mark should be registered. Demonstrating established prior use may well assist. Applications are then published in the Trade Marks Journal.
Any opposition to your registration must be lodged within three months of publication. If any opposition is made, you can defend the application and the Intellectual Property Office will fix a hearing for you and the opponent to argue your respective cases. When the three month period has expired and no opposition has been made, your trade mark will be entered on the Trade Marks Register.
The initial trade mark registration period is ten years and registration may be renewed for subsequent ten year periods unless your registration is revoked.