20 Well-Known UK Brands Whose Trade Marks Have Expired
An expired trade mark registration doesn't mean a brand has disappeared. Some of the UK's most recognisable names — from beloved high street chains to household products — have let their registrations lapse, whether through corporate collapse, restructuring, or simple oversight.
We searched the IPO register to find notable brands whose UK trade mark registrations are no longer active. Some are genuinely defunct. Others are still trading under common law rights, new ownership, or registrations in different classes. The distinction matters, and it's exactly the kind of nuance that anyone considering re-registering an expired mark needs to understand.
Retail & Fashion
Woolworths — The iconic pick 'n' mix retailer collapsed in 2008. Multiple Woolworths-related marks have expired on the UK register, though the brand has been revived online by other parties and the name carries enormous residual goodwill. A textbook example of a name that's expired on the register but almost certainly protected by passing off.
BHS (British Home Stores) — After its controversial collapse in 2016, the BHS brand was acquired by Al Mana Group for an online relaunch. Some earlier registrations tied to the original Arcadia-era entity have lapsed, but the brand is actively managed.
MFI — Once the UK's dominant furniture retailer, MFI went into administration in 2008. The brand carried huge awareness for decades, but recognition has faded significantly. One of the more interesting cases where the goodwill clock is ticking.
Comet — The electrical retailer went into administration in 2012. While the Comet name still carries recognition among a certain demographic, the word itself is generic, making it harder to defend on passing off grounds than a distinctive coined name.
Phones 4u — Collapsed in 2014 after mobile networks pulled their contracts. The brand was distinctive and well-known, but the market has moved on significantly. An interesting case study in how quickly consumer goodwill can dissipate in fast-moving sectors.
Food & Drink
Vimto (historical registrations) — Vimto itself is very much alive, but some older class-specific registrations have lapsed while newer ones remain active. A reminder to always check across all classes, not just the headline mark.
Bird's Custard — The original Bird's registrations from the early 20th century have long expired, though the brand continues under Premier Foods. Historical registrations like these are fascinating from a data perspective but carry no practical availability.
Trex — The vegetable fat brand has changed hands multiple times. Some class-specific marks have lapsed while others remain protected.
Travel & Leisure
Thomas Cook — After the dramatic collapse in 2019, the Thomas Cook brand was acquired by Fosun Tourism Group. Various historical registrations have expired, but the brand has been relaunched for online travel. Strong residual goodwill makes this completely unavailable despite some lapsed registrations.
Monarch Airlines — The airline collapsed in 2017. The Monarch name in travel-related classes is a complex case, as "Monarch" is a dictionary word and the airline's specific goodwill has faded.
Laker Airways — Freddie Laker's pioneering budget airline folded in 1982. The Laker Airways marks have long expired and the company was dissolved decades ago, making this one of the cleaner cases for potential re-registration — though you'd want to confirm no one holds residual rights.
Technology & Media
Amstrad — Alan Sugar's consumer electronics brand was acquired by Sky in 2007. Some standalone Amstrad registrations have lapsed, though Sky may hold related rights.
Betamax — Sony's famous video format lost the format war and the name has become essentially generic for a failed standard. Some registrations have expired, though Sony likely retains broader IP rights.
Household & Consumer
Bejam — The frozen food chain was taken over by Iceland in 1989. Bejam marks have long expired and the brand has no active commercial presence. After 35+ years of non-use, this is the type of name where residual goodwill has likely fully dissipated.
Radio Rentals — Once a fixture on every high street, Radio Rentals was absorbed into the Thorn EMI group and the retail brand phased out. The registrations have expired and the original company was dissolved.
Rumbelows — The Thorn EMI electrical retailer closed in 1995. A distinctive name with expired registrations and a dissolved owner — another candidate where the goodwill argument weakens with each passing decade.
What Does This Actually Tell Us?
A few patterns emerge from looking at well-known expired marks:
Corporate collapse doesn't mean the brand is free. Thomas Cook, BHS, and Woolworths all collapsed but had their brands acquired and relaunched. The administration process typically includes selling IP assets, so the new owner holds the rights even if they haven't immediately re-registered every historical mark.
Goodwill has a half-life. Brands like Bejam, Radio Rentals, and Rumbelows were household names in their era, but consumer recognition fades. A 25-year-old today has never heard of Bejam. After several decades of non-use with no active trading, the passing off risk diminishes substantially — though it never fully disappears.
Dictionary words are different. "Comet" and "Monarch" are real words. Even with expired registrations, you'd struggle to get exclusive trade mark rights to a common English word without building your own distinctive use. Coined names like "Bejam" or "Rumbelows" are much stronger candidates.
Check all classes, not just the expired ones. A brand might have let a Class 25 (clothing) registration lapse while maintaining a Class 35 (retail services) mark. The IPO register can contain dozens of entries for a single brand across different classes, filing dates, and owner entities. Searching by owner name as well as mark name is essential.
The Due Diligence Checklist
If you've spotted an expired mark on our register that interests you, here's the minimum you should check before getting excited:
- Is the owner company dissolved? Check Companies House. An active company that simply didn't renew is very different from a dissolved one.
- Is anyone actively trading under the name? A quick web search and social media check. Active trading creates common law rights regardless of registration status.
- Has the mark been expired for more than 12 months? If not, the original owner can still restore it.
- Is the name a dictionary word or a coined term? Coined terms are easier to protect but may carry stronger residual association with the original brand.
- Did the brand have national recognition? The more famous the brand, the longer goodwill persists, and the riskier a re-registration attempt becomes.
- Has the IP transferred to the Crown? If the owner company is dissolved, its assets — including trade marks — may have passed to the Crown as bona vacantia.
Start Searching
Browse the full register of 500,000+ expired UK trade marks on ExpiredTrademarks.co.uk, filtered by Nice class, date, and status. Set up alerts to get notified when marks in your industry expire.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. An expired trade mark registration does not mean a name is available for use or registration. Always consult a qualified trade mark attorney before filing an application.