The fees that must be paid for patents, trade marks and designs are to increase for the first time in several years.
Subject to parliamentary approval, the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) said fees will rise by an average of 25% from 1 April 2026.
The IPO’s fees have not increased since 2018 for patents, 2016 for designs and 1998 for trade marks, but the organisation said the proposed increases will allow it “to address the 32% rise in inflation since 2016 and future cost pressures that cannot be fully offset through further efficiency savings or reserves”.
It added that the changes “will enable the IPO to continue to invest in its systems and provide high quality services”.
Examples of increases include a patent search rising from £150 to £200 and a trade mark application going up from £170 to £205. The full list of proposed new fees is here.
The IPO said it will “publish full guidance early next year to help customers whose fees may be due around the time of the planned changes”.
The IPO’s announcement follows news earlier this week that Companies House is also introducing increases for incorporating a business and other charges. The cost of incorporation will rise from £50 to £100 on 1 February 2026.