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Registering at Companies House does not protect your name. Only a trademark does. Check yours against the UK register in 10 seconds.
Searches 2.8 million+ UK registered trademarks instantly. Data from the UK IPO register.
This is the most common misconception in UK business. Registering a company name at Companies House only prevents other companies from using the exact same company name. It does not stop anyone from trading under your name, building a brand with your name, or even trademarking it themselves.
A registered trademark is the only way to legally prevent another business from using your name in your industry. Without one, you're relying on “passing off” — which requires expensive litigation and years of proven trading reputation.
Every week, UK businesses discover their name has been trademarked by someone else. Below is an example of what a trademark check UK reveals — and what's in the full report.
Enter your business name above. Our AI scans the full UK IPO register for exact matches, phonetic similarities, and visual lookalikes across all 45 Nice classes.
Instantly see how many potential conflicts exist and whether your name is green (clear), amber (proceed with caution), or red (significant risk).
Unlock the complete clearance report with every conflicting mark, similarity scores, class analysis, and a recommended action plan — from just £9.99.
Every report is generated instantly by AI, drawing on the full UK IPO trademark register. No waiting days for a solicitor to get back to you.
Data source: All searches are powered by the UK Intellectual Property Office trademark register, licensed under RPSI 2015. Data is refreshed daily. TrademarkDashboard is not affiliated with the UK IPO. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
No. Companies House registration only prevents another company from registering an identical company name. It does not give you any rights to the name as a brand. Someone else can trade under the same name, build a competing brand, and even register a trademark for it — potentially forcing you to rebrand. Only a registered trademark protects your business name.
Use the search tool above to check your name against the UK IPO register instantly. The free search shows how many potential conflicts exist. For a full breakdown of every conflicting mark, including similarity analysis and class overlaps, purchase the Essential clearance report for £9.99.
Yes, if they operate in entirely different industries. Trademarks are registered against specific Nice classes (categories of goods and services). A clothing brand and a software company could both use the same name without conflict. However, if there's any overlap in the classes you operate in, the earlier trademark holder has priority — and could block your registration or demand you stop trading.
They could force you to rebrand, even if you've been trading under that name for years. You might have a defence under "passing off" law if you can prove prior use and established reputation — but passing off claims require expensive legal proceedings and are harder to prove than registered trademark infringement. A £9.99 clearance check now is far cheaper than a trademark dispute later.
The UK IPO's free search tool only checks for exact text matches. It doesn't catch phonetic similarities (names that sound alike), visual similarities, or conceptual matches. It also doesn't analyse class overlaps or score the risk level. TrademarkDashboard's AI-powered search catches conflicts that the basic IPO search misses — the same kind of conflicts an examiner would flag when reviewing your application.
Not necessarily. Many UK businesses file trademark applications themselves using the IPO's online service (from £205 per class). However, a clearance search before you file is essential — if your application is refused due to a conflicting mark, you lose your filing fee. The £9.99 Essential report gives you the same conflict analysis a professional search would, at a fraction of the cost.
Looking for more detail? Read our full guide: Is my business name safe in the UK?
Every week, UK businesses discover their name has been trademarked by someone else. A 10-second search could save you thousands in rebranding costs.