Brand owners
Trade mark watching service UK: what it is and what it costs
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The short answer
A trade mark watching service monitors new trade mark applications, and often domains and marketplaces, for names that conflict with yours, so you can oppose or act before a copy becomes established. A good watch matches similar spellings and sounds, not just exact names, and tells you the deadline to act. Infringement Ninja's plans start free for one brand, with paid plans from £29 a month.
Why watching matters
The UK IPO doesn't stop someone filing a mark similar to yours; it's up to you to object. Conflicting UK applications can only be opposed within two months of publication (three with a TM7A), so a watch is mostly about not missing that window. Once a mark is registered, removing it is slower and more expensive.
What a good watch covers
- New trade mark applications in the registers you care about, weekly.
- Similar marks, not only identical ones: changed letters, sound-alikes, added words.
- The classes of goods and services you trade in, plus related ones.
- Lookalike domains, app store listings and marketplace sellers, where copies often appear first.
- Clear deadlines, and a short reason why each match matters.
What it costs
Traditional watching services from trade mark firms are usually priced per mark and per register, with the attorney's review on top. Software watches are cheaper and broader, with a professional brought in when you decide to act.
Infringement Ninja's plans, in pounds a month: Free covers one brand with weekly scans of the UK journal and lookalike domains; Starter is £29 for three brands with daily scans across every source; Pro is £99 for ten; Business is £299 for thirty. Paid plans include monthly credits for listing checks, on-demand scans and takedown drafts.
Watching isn't the same as legal advice
A watch finds and triages conflicts and helps you act quickly on the clear ones. For a contested opposition or anything high value, take advice from a chartered trade mark attorney.
Questions to ask any watching service
- Which registers and sources does it check, and how often?
- Does it catch similar spellings and sound-alikes, or only exact matches?
- Does it filter out irrelevant results, or send you everything?
- Does it show the opposition deadline for each conflicting application?
- What happens when you want to act: drafts, attorney referrals, or nothing?
- Is the price per mark, per register, or per account, and what's included?
How Infringement Ninja helps
Add your website and Infringement Ninja suggests what to watch: your brand, product names and classes. It checks each week's UK journal, new domains, the app stores and the web, marketplaces included,, and alerts you only to the matches worth a look, with the opposition deadline and a draft ready.
Common questions
Does the UK IPO tell me if someone files a similar trade mark?
The UK IPO may notify owners of earlier UK marks about some conflicting applications, but it's still up to you to oppose, and it won't flag domains, apps or marketplace copies. A watch fills those gaps.
How much does a trade mark watch cost in the UK?
Firm-run watches are usually priced per mark and register. Infringement Ninja starts free for one brand, with paid plans at £29, £99 and £299 a month.
Can a watch stop someone registering my name?
Not by itself. It tells you in time to oppose, which is how you stop a conflicting registration.
Catch copies before your customers do
Infringement Ninja watches the UK trade mark journal, lookalike domains, the app stores and the web, marketplaces included, for your brand, and drafts the takedowns. Free for one brand.
Start watching freeRelated
This guide is general information, not legal advice.