Someone opposed your trademark. You have 28 days to respond or lose automatically. Here's the exact process that wins 60% of opposition cases without spending £15,000 on solicitors.
Day 1-7: Analyze the Opposition
Read the TM7 form carefully. What grounds? Similarity? Bad faith? Prior use?
Day 8-14: Gather Evidence
First use date, sales figures, marketing materials. Prove your legitimate claim to the name.
Check Their Trademark
Is their mark actually being used? 30% of opposition trademarks are abandoned or unused - grounds for counter-attack.
Day 15-21: Draft Response
TM8 form. Address each ground specifically. Generic denials fail.
Day 22-28: File and Pay
£200 filing fee. Miss the deadline and you lose automatically, no exceptions.
Warning: UK IPO grants zero extensions on opposition responses. 28 days means 28 days, not 29.
Generic Names Can't Be Trademarked
If you want legal protection and a name competitors can't copy, make it distinctive from day one. Opposition is easier to defend with distinctive marks.