{"id":198470,"date":"2026-06-19T02:59:18","date_gmt":"2026-06-19T01:59:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/?p=198470"},"modified":"2026-06-19T03:01:33","modified_gmt":"2026-06-19T02:01:33","slug":"crown-trade-mark","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/intellectual-property\/crown-trade-mark\/","title":{"rendered":"How Do You Purchase a Trade Mark from the Crown After a Company Is Dissolved?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Trade marks from dissolved companies<\/a> often pass to the Crown as ownerless property. This can create opportunities for businesses to acquire dormant intellectual property. This article will explain the bona vacantia process for anyone looking to purchase an \u2018orphaned\u2019 trade mark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is a Crown Trade Mark?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When a company dissolves in England and Wales without transferring its assets, its remaining property passes to the Crown. This process includes trade marks, and is called bona vacantia, meaning \u2018ownerless goods\u2019. This legal principle ensures that assets do not simply disappear when a company ceases to exist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Crown does not actively seek to acquire these trade marks; rather, they vest automatically by operation of law. The Treasury Solicitor\u2019s Office manages bona vacantia assets for the Crown. These trade marks remain on the UK Intellectual Property Office<\/a> register until someone transfers ownership. Until then, the dissolved company stays listed as the proprietor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not all dissolved company trade marks immediately become available for purchase. If the company dissolved whilst in liquidation, assets may have been distributed to creditors. If a company was struck off the register, former directors or shareholders may restore it. This can allow the company to reclaim its assets, including trade marks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Crown holds these trade marks as custodian, not as an active brand owner. This may make them available to parties with legitimate commercial interests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Does the Crown Come to Own Trade Marks?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Crown’s ownership of trade marks through bona vacantia occurs in several scenarios. The most common situation arises when a company is struck off the Companies House register, either voluntarily by its directors or compulsorily by the Registrar of Companies for non-compliance with filing requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When a strike-off occurs, the company ceases to exist as a legal entity. Any trade marks registered in the company’s name automatically vest in the Crown at the moment of dissolution. This happens regardless of whether the trade mark has commercial value or whether anyone is actively using it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another scenario involves companies that enter liquidation but are subsequently dissolved with undistributed assets. Liquidators usually identify and deal with valuable assets. However, they may overlook trade marks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This can happen if:<\/p>\n\n\n\n