UK Trademark Clearance Report: know your risk before you file
Don’t spend £205 on an IPO application that gets refused. Get an instant AI clearance report with risk scoring, conflict analysis, class recommendations, and a shareable PDF, from £9.99.
What Is a Trademark Clearance Report?
A clearance report is the step between a free trademark search and filing your application. It answers one question: is my proposed name safe to register?
Where a free search shows you matching names, a clearance report goes deeper. It scores every conflict by how similar it sounds, looks, and means — the same three tests the UK IPO examiner applies — and wraps the analysis in a downloadable PDF you can share with co-founders, investors, or your trademark attorney.
Free Search
Lists matching and similar marks from the UK register. Shows name, class, status, and owner. Good for a quick first look — but no risk scoring, no PDF, no company or domain checks.
Clearance Report (from £9.99)
Green/amber/red risk score. Full conflict list with similarity percentages. Nice class overlap analysis. Companies House & charity checks. Domain availability scan. AI-written narrative. Downloadable PDF. Recommended filing actions.
The Real Cost of Filing Without a Clearance Check
Most founders assume trademark registration costs £205. In practice, a failed application cascades into far larger costs.
Filing blind
£500–£5,000+IPO filing fee (lost): £205 · Responding to examination objections: £300–£800 · Refiling in correct classes: £205+ · Solicitor to handle opposition: £500–£2,000 · Full rebrand (worst case): £5,000+
Clearance report first
£9.99Conflicts identified before you file · Recommended Nice classes with drafting options · Plain-English risk verdict in under 2 minutes · PDF + instant web view + scan-to-live QR · Adjust your name or strategy at zero additional cost
What is a Trademark Clearance Report?
A short explainer on what a UK trademark clearance report checks before you file — the s.3 absolute-grounds screen, conflicts ranked by sound, look and AI-judged meaning, plus company, domain and social-handle signals — so you can clear a brand name with confidence.
What’s Inside Each Clearance Report
Every report is generated instantly by AI using licensed UK IPO register data refreshed daily.
| Feature | Basic (£9.99) | Standard (£49.99) | Premium (£99.99) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delivery time | Under 2 min | Under 2 min | Under 2 min |
| Plain-English risk verdict | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| UK conflicting marks | Top 5 | Full 30+ table, ranked | Full 30+ table, ranked |
| UK registrability check | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mark strength rating | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Domain availability scan | Core domains | Core domains | 12+ variants |
| Official filing-fee table (5 registries) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Likelihood-of-confusion analysis | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| AI conflict narrative | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Recommended Nice classes + drafting options | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Common-law conflict signals (companies, charities, web, socials) | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Owner materiality ranking | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tactical recommendations for your mark | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| 3-question Attorney Brief | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| International coverage (UK + EU + US + JP + AU) | — | — | ✓ |
| Full Attorney Review Pack with filing strategy | — | — | ✓ |
| Figurative-mark image catalogue | — | — | ✓ |
| 8-platform social handle scan | — | — | ✓ |
| Top 5 owner portfolio analysis | — | — | ✓ |
| Conceptual / cultural conflict check | — | — | ✓ |
| PDF + instant web view + scan-to-live QR | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
See What a Clearance Report Reveals
Here’s what a free search for “Bright Spark” shows — and what the clearance report unlocks.
How Your Report Is Generated — Step by Step
Enter your brand name
Type the name you want to protect. The AI scans 3 million+ UK trade marks for phonetic, visual, and conceptual matches.
Choose your report tier
Basic (£9.99) for a plain-English risk snapshot, Standard (£49.99) for a filing-ready brief with likelihood-of-confusion analysis and a 3-question Attorney Brief, Premium (£99.99) for full international coverage and an Attorney Review Pack. See pricing.
AI analysis runs
The engine checks UK register conflicts, common-law signals (companies, charities, websites, social handles), domain availability, registrability and mark strength in parallel. Standard adds the AI conflict narrative and Attorney Brief; Premium adds EUIPO, USPTO, Japan and Australia, ranked by relevance to your UK position.
Risk verdict assigned
One of four plain-English verdicts: Do Not Proceed, Attorney Review, Proceed with Caution, or Low-Risk Screen. Each conflicting mark is scored on phonetic, visual, and conceptual similarity, with class overlap and a status-weighted composite ranking.
PDF, dashboard view & QR delivered
Your full report is available immediately as a downloadable PDF, an instant web view inside your dashboard, and a scan-to-live QR code. Share it with co-founders, investors, or your trademark attorney.
Who Should Order a Clearance Report?
Founders & Startups
You’re choosing a name for a new business. A clearance check before you order business cards, build your website, or file at the IPO saves you from a costly rebrand later.
Amazon & E-commerce Sellers
Amazon Brand Registry requires a registered trademark. A clearance report ensures your brand name will pass examination before you invest in product listings and packaging.
Marketing & Brand Agencies
Running a naming project for a client? A clearance report gives you a shareable PDF with conflict data and risk scoring — professional proof the name is viable before creative sign-off.
Trademark Attorneys
Use the report as a first-pass clearance to save billable hours. The PDF export is formatted for professional use — several firms on our attorney directory already use them as standard intake documents.
Rebranding Businesses
Changing your trading name? Check the new name against the register before you update signage, packaging, and marketing materials.
International Expansion
Planning to sell outside the UK? The Premium tier checks EUIPO (EU-wide), USPTO (US), Japan, and Australia in a single report, with conflicts tiered by relevance to your UK position.
The Three Similarity Tests the UK IPO Uses
When the IPO examiner reviews your application, they check for three types of similarity against existing marks. Our AI mirrors these tests.
Phonetic Similarity
Marks that sound alikewhen spoken. “Klear” vs “Clear”, or “Phynix” vs “Phoenix”. The most common reason applications are flagged.
Visual Similarity
Marks that look alikein print or on screen. Similar letter shapes, spacing, or stylisation — “GÖÖGLE” vs “GOOGLE”, for example.
Conceptual Similarity
Marks that share the same meaning, even with different words. “Rapid Delivery” vs “Swift Shipping” — same idea, different expression.
The clearance report scores each conflicting mark against all three dimensions, producing an overall risk assessment that mirrors the examiner’s own evaluation framework.
Choose Your Report Tier
Start with a free search, then upgrade to the tier that matches your needs.
5 Tips to Get the Most From Your Clearance Report
Search the exact name you plan to file
Don't abbreviate or modify it. The AI matches against the precise string you enter, including phonetic variations.
Check multiple name options
If you have a shortlist, run a clearance report on each. At £9.99 per check, testing three names costs less than one failed IPO application.
Review the class recommendations
The report suggests the Nice classes most relevant to your business. Filing in the right classes from day one avoids gaps in protection and unnecessary costs.
Share the PDF with your attorney
If you plan to use professional advice, the report gives your attorney a head start — saving billable hours and reducing your bill.
Use the company & domain data
Trademark conflicts aren't the only risk. The report also checks Companies House, charity registers, and key domain extensions so you see the full brand landscape.
Clearance Report → File Your Trademark
Once your report shows a green or low-amber risk, these guides walk you through the next steps.
How to Register a UK Trademark
Step-by-step IPO filing process, fees, and timelines.
Common Filing Mistakes to Avoid
The errors that lead to refused applications and wasted fees.
Understanding Trademark Opposition
What happens when an existing holder opposes your application.
UK IPO Fees (2026)
Current filing fees, class costs, and payment options.
Need Professional Advice? Find an Attorney
For complex filings, multi-class applications, or international protection, a trademark attorney adds an extra layer of assurance. Share your clearance report with them to save time and fees.
Explore Notable UK Trademarks
See how the UK’s most recognised brands protect their intellectual property — and what a clearance check would reveal about similar names.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a trademark clearance report?
A clearance report is a pre-filing analysis that identifies conflicts between your proposed brand name and existing registered trademarks. It includes a risk score (green/amber/red), a full list of conflicting marks with similarity ratings, Nice class overlap analysis, recommended filing actions, and a downloadable PDF. It tells you whether your name is safe to file — before you spend money at the IPO.
How much does a clearance report cost?
Basic Clearance Reports start at £9.99 (plain-English risk verdict, top 5 conflicting UK marks, UK registrability check, mark-strength rating, domain availability scan, filing-fee table for 5 registries). Standard Clearance at £49.99 adds the full 30+ mark conflict table, likelihood-of-confusion analysis, AI conflict narrative, common-law signal panel, owner materiality ranking, tactical recommendations, and a 3-question Attorney Brief. Premium Clearance at £99.99 adds international coverage across UK, EU, US, Japan, and Australia, a full Attorney Review Pack with filing strategy, figurative-mark image catalogue, 8-platform social handle scan, 12+ domain-variant coverage, top-5 owner portfolio analysis, and a conceptual / cultural conflict check.
Do I need a clearance report before filing?
It is not legally required, but the UK IPO charges £205 per class (non-refundable if refused). A £9.99 clearance check can save you hundreds in wasted fees. If your mark has conflicts, you can refine the name or adjust your Nice class strategy before committing to the application.
How quickly do I receive the report?
In under 2 minutes, on every tier. The pipeline runs the moment you purchase: UK register conflict scoring, registrability and mark-strength checks, domain scan, common-law signal panel, AI conflict narrative (Standard and above), and international tiering (Premium). The PDF, instant web view, and scan-to-live QR are available immediately.
What is the difference between a free search and a clearance report?
The free search shows matching and similar UK trademarks. A clearance report goes further: phonetic, visual, and conceptual similarity scoring for every conflict; Nice class overlap analysis; Companies House and charity register checks; domain availability scan; AI-written risk narrative; and a shareable PDF.
Can I share the PDF with my trademark attorney?
Yes. The PDF is designed to be shared with advisors. Attorneys frequently use clearance reports as a starting point for formal opinions, which saves billable hours and reduces your legal costs.
What three types of similarity does the AI check?
Phonetic (sounds alike — e.g. 'Klear' vs 'Clear'), visual (looks alike in print — e.g. 'GÖÖGLE' vs 'GOOGLE'), and conceptual (shares the same meaning — e.g. 'Rapid' vs 'Swift'). These mirror the three tests the UK IPO examiner applies during examination and opposition.
Does the Premium tier cover international trademarks?
Yes. Premium Clearance (£99.99) searches UK, EU (EUIPO), US (USPTO), Japan, and Australia, with international conflicts tiered by relevance to your UK position — direct matches first, close variants next, contextual matches collapsed by default. Premium also adds a full Attorney Review Pack, figurative-mark image catalogue, social-handle scan, and a top-5 owner portfolio analysis. Essential for businesses trading or planning to expand outside the UK.
Is this a substitute for a trademark attorney?
For straightforward applications, the clearance report provides the analysis an attorney would compile — often all you need. For complex multi-class or international filings, we recommend sharing the report with an attorney from our directory of 3,200+ UK trademark professionals. It will save them time and save you money.
What if my clearance report shows a red (high risk) score?
A red score means significant conflicts exist. The report lists every conflicting mark, the similarity type, and the class overlap. You can use this to decide whether to: adjust the name slightly, file in different classes, proceed and accept the risk, or consult an attorney about the specific conflicts identified.
Data source: UK IPO register, licensed under RPSI 2015. Updated daily. Contains public sector information under the OGL v3.0. Not affiliated with the UK IPO or UK government.
£9.99 now or £500+ later — your choice
Run your clearance check before you file. Instant AI analysis, full conflict list, downloadable PDF.