Trademark news: Fee adjustments and updated Nice classification

Fee adjustments in Denmark

The Danish Patent and Trademark Office (DKPTO) has implemented a 20% across-the-board increase in fees for its trademark services, which includes filing fees. This increase also affects fees related to patents, supplementary protection certificates, designs, utility models, and semiconductor products. 

The fee adjustment, effective from 1 January 2026, is attributed to the need for improved customer-facing IT solutions and enhanced IT security.

To ease the transition, certain fees will remain unchanged during an adaptational period:

• Renewal fees for patents, supplementary protection certificates, utility models, and designs due by 1 April 2025 will not be affected.
• Renewal fees for trademark registrations due by 1 July 2026 will remain at their current level. This exemption applies to both national Danish trademark registrations and Danish designations of international trademark registrations.

For a comprehensive overview of the increased fees, please click here (in Danish).

Fee adjustments in the United Kingdom

The United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office (UKPTO) has proposed a fee increase for its trademark, patent, and design services. The proposed increases are generally set at 25%, though some fees may see higher or lower percentage changes. 

These adjustments are slated to take effect on 1 April 2026, pending formal parliamentary approval. Until then, the existing fee structure will remain in place.

To view the current and proposed fee structures, please click here.

Amended Nice classification effective 1 January 2026

On 11 December 2025, WIPO announced the release of the 13th edition of the Nice classification, effective 1 January 2026. Notably, certain goods will be reclassified from one class to another.

The updated classifications will apply to:

• All new applications received by trademark offices on or after 1 January 2026.
• Applications received by WIPO on or after 1 January 2026, following the two-month time limit outlined in Article 3(4) of the Madrid Protocol.

Existing international trademark registrations with a registration date prior to 1 January 2026 will not be subject to reclassification.

For a detailed breakdown of the changes in goods and services classification, please click here.