Data shows padel becoming a distinct consumer brand in the UK

Désirée Fields of Pinsent Masons, who specialises in brand protection in sport, was commenting after Pinsent Masons analysed statistics obtained from the UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO) and found that there has been a sharp rise in the number of ‘padel’-related trade mark applications filed with the IPO over the past three years.

According to the data, 255 such applications were filed between 1 January 2026 and 17 September 2026, up from 39 equivalent applications filed during all of 2023. In 2024 and 2025, the number of ‘padel’-related trade mark applications totalled 68 and 198, respectively.

Fields said: “When we wrote earlier this year about the rapid growth of padel in the UK, the available trade mark filing data at the time suggested that brand owners were beginning to recognise the commercial opportunities emerging around the sport. The latest figures indicate that this trend has not only continued but accelerated. This reflects the speed with which the sport is moving into the commercial mainstream.”

Insights into the breadth of protection being sought by brand owners in respect of padel have also been gleaned by Pinsent Masons from its analysis of the IPO data. This is because the data reveals which ‘class’ of goods or services applications relate to, in accordance with the international classification system for trade mark applications that operates.

“Unsurprisingly, the largest number of filings are in Class 28, covering sporting articles and equipment, and Class 41, covering sporting, coaching and entertainment services,” said Fields. “However, there has also been significant activity in classes covering clothing, retail services and business services, suggesting that businesses increasingly view padel as a lifestyle and consumer brand opportunity rather than simply a sport.”

“The data indicates that the market is evolving beyond court operators and equipment manufacturers. Filing activity in Class 25 for clothing has risen from a single filing in 2023 to 37 filings in 2026, while Class 35 retail and business services filings have increased from four filings in 2023 to 31 in 2026. This points to the emergence of merchandising, retail and wider commercial offerings built around padel brands,” she said.

“Another notable feature of the data is the continued prominence of Class 41, which covers sporting, coaching and entertainment services. Filings in this class have risen from 17 in 2023 to 71 in 2026, reflecting the importance of coaching academies, tournaments, training programmes and club offerings in the development of the sector,” Fields added.

Last month, Fields said that businesses thinking of expanding into the padel market in the UK should focus efforts on clearing the way to take their brand to market and back that up with relevant rights registration, promotion and enforcement. She said the IPO data reinforces this point and emphasises the need to avoid viewing trade mark protection as an afterthought.

“Many operators may begin as single-site clubs or coaching businesses, but the filing trends suggest that successful brands are increasingly looking to expand into apparel, retail, events, coaching and wider commercial activities,” Fields said. “Securing protection at an early stage can help preserve those expansion opportunities as businesses grow.”

“The filing data also highlights the importance of getting trade mark strategy right from the outset. While businesses should consider their future expansion plans when deciding what protection to seek, trade mark specifications must also be carefully tailored to genuine future commercial intentions. As the law in this area has developed in recent years, businesses increasingly need to balance securing adequate protection for growth against avoiding overbroad filings that may later become vulnerable to challenge,” she said.

However, Fields stressed that filing a trade mark is only part of the picture as competition in the market increases.

“Businesses should also consider monitoring new applications and marketplace use by competitors to identify potential conflicts at an early stage,” Fields said. “In a rapidly expanding sector, the ability to detect and address issues before they become established can be just as valuable as obtaining registration in the first place.”