Brand Protection
Register a trade mark for your products, product lines, or services and obtain exclusive rights over a name and/or logo.
Register a trade mark for your products, product lines, or services and obtain exclusive rights over a name and/or logo.
Before filing the trade mark application, we identify the relevant classes of goods and services for which protection is sought and provide a legal opinion on the sign’s registrability. Not every logo or name is eligible for registration—an application may be refused on “absolute grounds,” for example, due to conflict with public order or good morals, or lack of distinctiveness. We conduct thorough research to identify conflicts with earlier rights and examine the territories in which you currently operate, as well as those of long-term strategic interest.
A trade mark may be registered at the national level (for the territory of a given country), at the regional level (EU, Benelux), or for third-country territories under the Madrid System for international registration of trade marks.
The successful registration of a national or European Union trade mark typically takes approximately 5–6 months, provided that no third-party objections or oppositions are raised. In all cases, we conduct comprehensive preliminary research and assessment prior to filing in order to identify and minimize potential conflicts with earlier identical or similar third-party rights.
Upon registration, you receive rights over the trade mark for a 10-year term, which may be extended for further 10-year terms indefinitely, if requested—a major advantage of trade marks as intellectual property rights.
Only registered trade marks benefit from the full scope of legal protection and provide access to formal enforcement mechanisms against imitation and other forms of unfair competition. A registered trade mark also strengthens brand recognition by clearly distinguishing a company’s products or services in the marketplace. This distinct identity fosters customer loyalty, enhances consumer trust, and supports the development of a strong and reputable business image associated with consistent quality and reliability.
Using an unregistered sign entails two significant risks: first, the potential loss of investments made in the development and promotion of the brand; and second, exposure to liability for possible infringement of third parties’ prior rights.
Please bear in mind that the law also provides protection for a wide range of “non-traditional” trade marks, including multimedia marks, hologram marks, position marks, and other distinctive sign formats, subject to applicable legal requirements.