How To Use Trademark Symbols (™ And ®) Correctly In The UK

If you’re building a brand, you’ve probably seen little symbols like ™ and ® next to names and logos everywhere - on websites, packaging, proposals and social media.

But when you’re running a small business, it’s not always clear what these symbols actually mean, when you’re allowed to use them, and how to quickly copy and paste the trademark symbols so it looks professional across your marketing.

The good news is: once you understand the difference between ™ and ®, using them correctly becomes a simple habit - and it can help you avoid nasty legal problems (like accidentally claiming you have a registered trade mark when you don’t).

Below, we’ll walk you through what the symbols mean in the UK, how to copy them on any device, where to place them, and the common mistakes we see growing businesses make.

What Do The Trademark Symbols (™ And ®) Actually Mean?

Let’s start with the basics, because these symbols are often misunderstood.

What Does ™ Mean In The UK?

™ stands for trade mark (sometimes written as “trademark”). In the UK, the ™ symbol is used to show you’re treating a word, phrase, logo or other “brand sign” as a trade mark - even if it isn’t registered.

It’s essentially a public statement that:

• you’re using the sign as a brand identifier (not just decorative text), and
• you consider it part of your business identity.

There’s no formal “permission” needed to use ™. That’s why you’ll often see startups use ™ before they’ve registered anything.

What Does ® Mean In The UK?

® means registered trade mark.

In the UK, you should only use ® if your trade mark is actually registered. For example, if you’ve registered your trade mark with the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO), you can generally use ® with that mark in the UK.

Using ® can be a strong deterrent to copycats because it signals that you have formal trade mark rights - and that you can enforce them more directly if someone infringes your registration.

If you’re at the stage where you’re considering registration, it’s usually worth getting advice on trade mark registration so your application and strategy match how you actually use your brand in the real world.

Do These Symbols Create Legal Rights?

Not by themselves.

In the UK, trade mark rights come from:

• registration (for registered rights), and/or
• use and reputation (which can support an unregistered “passing off” claim in some situations).

So, using ™ doesn’t magically “register” your brand - and using ® without a real registration can create legal risk (we’ll cover this later).

When Can You Use ™ Vs ® As A UK Business?

This is where many small businesses get caught out - often not out of bad intent, but because they’ve copied what they’ve seen online.

When You Can Use ™

In most cases, you can use ™ when:

• you’re using the word/logo as a brand identifier (for example, your product name), and
• you haven’t registered it yet (or you’re in the process of registering).

Some practical examples:

• Your business name used on your website header: YourBrand™
• A product line name on packaging: ProductName™
• A logo shown on a pitch deck: ™

That said, you still want to be careful about what you claim. If you use ™ on a name you’re not genuinely using as a trade mark (for example, a generic description), it may confuse customers and doesn’t really add protection.

When You Can Use ®

You should only use ® when:

• your trade mark is registered in the UK (or, if you’re marketing abroad, registered in that country/region), and
• you’re using the symbol for the goods/services covered by that registration.

It can get a bit technical if you have different registrations in different countries, or if your registration covers some products but not others.

For example, if your brand is registered for “clothing” but you start selling skincare products, using ® on skincare packaging may be misleading.

If you’re scaling into new product categories or collaborating with others, it’s also worth tightening up your IP paperwork generally - including who owns what if you started with a co-founder.

What About “SM” Or “℠”?

You might see service mark symbols (℠) in some countries, but they’re not commonly used in the UK. In most UK business contexts, you’ll typically stick to ™ for unregistered and ® for registered.

How To Do A Trademark Symbol Copy (™ And ®) On Any Device

If you’re here because you literally want a reliable way to copy the trademark symbols (™ and ®) quickly for emails, listings and website text, this section is for you.

First, the easiest approach:

• Trademark symbol: ™
• Registered symbol: ®

You can copy and paste those directly. But to make your life easier long term, here are the most common ways to insert them depending on your setup.

Trademark Symbol Copy On Windows

• ™: Hold Alt and type 0153 on the numeric keypad (Alt + 0153)
• ®: Hold Alt and type 0174 on the numeric keypad (Alt + 0174)

Tip: If you don’t have a numeric keypad (common on laptops), you may find it easier to copy/paste or use the Windows symbol picker.

Trademark Symbol Copy On Mac

• ™: Option + 2
• ®: Option + R

This is usually the fastest “muscle memory” method once you’ve done it a few times.

Trademark Symbol Copy On iPhone / iPad

On iOS, the simplest approach is usually to use the emoji/symbol keyboard search:

• ®: search “registered”
• ™: search “tm” or “trademark”

Because settings vary, it can also be handy to keep ™ and ® saved in a Notes app snippet so you can copy/paste quickly.

Trademark Symbol Copy On Android

Android keyboards vary by manufacturer, but you can usually:

• use the symbols/emoji panel and search “tm” or “registered”, or
• copy and paste from a saved snippet.

How To Add ™ And ® In HTML (For Websites)

If you’re updating your website and want symbols to display correctly across browsers, use HTML entities:

• ™: ™ (or ™)
• ®: ® (or ®)

For example:

YourBrand™
YourBrand®

Practical note: If you use these symbols on your website, make sure your wider legal pages are also consistent and accurate.

Where Should You Put ™ Or ® In Your Branding?

Once you’ve sorted the trademark symbol copy side of things, the next question is placement.

There’s no single “perfect” rule, but there are common conventions that look professional and reduce confusion.

Common Placement Rules (That Most Businesses Follow)

• Place the symbol immediately after the mark: YourBrand™ or YourBrand®
• Usually place it in superscript if your design allows (especially for packaging and logos)
• Use the symbol on the first or most prominent use on a page (you don’t always need it after every mention)

If you’re using a logo, designers often place ™ or ® at the top right of the logo. Just keep it consistent.

Should You Use The Symbol Everywhere?

Not necessarily.

Overusing ™ or ® can clutter your website and marketing. A common practical approach is to use it:

• on your homepage header or footer near the brand name,
• on key product packaging, and
• in major marketing assets (pitch decks, brochures, catalogues).

Where you do want to be careful is any place where you’re making formal claims - for example, in contracts, licensing deals, or reseller arrangements. If you’re giving someone permission to use your brand, you’ll usually want the legal wording nailed down in a tailored IP Licence.

What If You’ve Registered A Word Mark But Not A Logo (Or Vice Versa)?

This comes up a lot.

You might have:

• a registered word trade mark (the name), but not the stylised logo, or
• a registered logo, but not the plain word.

In that situation, you should avoid using ® in a way that suggests everything is registered if only one element is. This is where tailored advice can save you headaches, especially if you’re rebranding or launching new packaging.

Common Mistakes To Avoid (And The Legal Risks In The UK)

Trade mark symbols look small, but using them incorrectly can cause outsized problems - particularly if you’re pitching to investors, negotiating partnerships, or scaling into retail.

Mistake 1: Using ® When Your Trade Mark Isn’t Registered

This is the big one.

In the UK, the misuse of the ® symbol can be an offence under the Trade Marks Act 1994 (for example, applying indications that a mark is registered when it isn’t).

Practically, this can also:

• damage trust with customers or partners,
• create reputational issues if a competitor calls you out, and
• cause friction if you’re later involved in a dispute and your marketing history is reviewed.

If you’re unsure whether you’re registered (or what exactly is registered), it’s worth confirming before you update packaging or web copy.

Mistake 2: Assuming ™ Means You’re Protected Automatically

Using ™ can be helpful for messaging, but it doesn’t replace proper IP protection.

If your brand is valuable (or likely to become valuable), registration is often the safest route. Otherwise, you may have to rely on “passing off”, which generally requires proving reputation and misrepresentation - a more complex (and often more expensive) path.

Mistake 3: Putting ™ On Generic Or Descriptive Terms

If you sell baked goods, calling your muffins “Fresh Muffins™” doesn’t really help.

Trade marks work best when they identify your business specifically - not when they describe the goods or services. Choosing a distinctive brand name is part marketing decision, part legal risk management.

Mistake 4: Using Trademark Symbols Without Owning The IP

If you’re working with freelancers, agencies, or contractors who design your logo or brand assets, make sure you actually own what you’re using.

That might mean having a clear IP assignment clause in your design agreement, or using an IP Assignment so the rights transfer properly to your business.

This matters because you don’t want to be in the awkward position of using ™ or ® on a logo that someone else legally owns.

Mistake 5: Forgetting That Brand Protection Isn’t Just Trade Marks

Trade marks are a major piece of brand protection, but they’re not the whole picture.

You might also need to think about:

• copyright in your website copy, graphics, photography and content (the © symbol is separate to trade marks),
• domain names and social handles, and
• contracts that stop partners or contractors from misusing your materials.

If you publish content (blog posts, guides, graphics) as part of your marketing, it’s worth getting your copyright approach consistent too - including how you present notices like © and “all rights reserved”, as covered in copyright symbol guidance.

Key Takeaways

• The ™ symbol is typically used in the UK to show you’re treating a name or logo as a trade mark, even if it’s not registered.
• The ® symbol should only be used if your trade mark is registered (and used for the goods/services covered by that registration).
• A quick trademark symbol copy can be done by copying and pasting (™ and ®), using keyboard shortcuts, or using HTML entities like ™ and ®.
• Place the symbol immediately after the brand name or logo, and consider using it on the first prominent mention rather than after every instance.
• Avoid misusing ® - it can create legal and reputational risk under UK law, especially if you imply you’re registered when you’re not.
• Trade mark symbols are only one part of protecting your business; ownership of IP and clear contracts matter just as much as what you put on your packaging.

If you’d like help registering your trade mark or getting your brand protection set up properly, you can reach us at 08081347754 or team@sprintlaw.co.uk for a free, no-obligations chat.