Fees increase at the IPO: a busy year for IP?

In a surprise move, the UK IPO announced that fees for IP rights applications will increase across the board from 1 April 2026. The increase averages at 25%, meaning an online application for a UK trade mark will rise from £170 to £205 and an online patent filing will rise from £60 to £75. The increase for Registered Design applications is slightly lower, with a single application rising from £50 to £60 and for up to ten designs increasing from £70 to £85. It seems as though the IPO has tried to avoid any fee being anything other than a full pound, which helps with data entry, if nothing else!

Here is the full list of UK IPO fee changes.

In its announcement, the IPO points out that its fees have not increased since 2018 for patents, 2016 for designs, and 1998 for trade marks.

At the risk of depressing our readers, since 1998, inflation has increased by 95.2%. If the cost of a trade mark application had risen at the rate of inflation, it would now be £331.89. Therefore, the IPO has shown a degree of restraint.

Since the last trade mark fee rise in 1998, the volume of applications has rocketed, with Brexit adding to the situation. The volume of registered designs has shot up an incredible 1155% since 2015 and, while patents have shown less exuberant growth, the overall increases, while adding to the administrative task, will also be boosting the coffers, supporting this lower than inflationary fee increase.

The IPO also points to its investment in digital services over the period since previous fee rises, which it has funded from reserves. It has been pursuing the One IPO digital transformation programme for the past three years, with the One IPO patent system now going live and the trade mark system set to follow.

For IP rights owners with renewals due within six months of the fee increase date, it may be beneficial to complete the process prior to 1 April 2026. For single renewals, the cost increase is not too significant, but for companies with large rights portfolios due at the time, there could be a financial advantage. However, in the same way that the EU IPO restricted early renewal applications when it increased design registration fees, the IPO may put limits on when rights holders can renew. At the moment, it plans to publish full guidance early next year for customers whose fees are due around the time of the planned changes.

For now, rights holders are advised to be aware of the situation and talk to their attorneys about the possible benefits of making early renewal applications in 2026.

Businesses may also want to accelerate the schedule for planned applications, searches, cancellations, or any other activities that attract IPO fees, to avoid paying the higher price. This could make for a busy new year for attorneys and paralegals.