How to register a trademark in Europe quickly

Registering a trademark in the EU is the most reliable and effective way to promote and protect your brand. It is possible to register a trademark in Europe at the national level, which is an optimal solution if you plan to work in a particular country. But if you are going to enter the international market, the TM has to be registered at the EU level. It means that you need to register it as an EU trade mark (EUTM).

What is a trademark

A trademark is a sign that distinguishes a company from firms providing similar services or goods. It can be expressed in the form of a graphic image, logo, slogan, have other distinctive signs or their combination.

TM can become the company's its most important asset if the company offers a quality product. With its help, it can attract new customers, retain the loyalty of the old ones, and successfully develop the brand. On the other hand, if the company provides a low-quality product or service, customers will be unlikely to open their wallets when they see the company's logo.

Thus, if a company has a great reputation, its TMs can be mimicked or duplicated, passing off an imitation for the originals. This can seriously damage the company's image. Registering a trademark allows the brand to protect its rights and get compensation from the infringer.

Features of TM registration in the EU

National mark and EUTM complement each other but have some differences. The national brand works more within a single country. It is suitable for small and medium-sized businesses that operate in a particular territory and do not need multinational protection. EUTM allows you to protect the brand throughout the EU. This registration is recommended for brands that plan to operate in many countries.

How to register a trademark in the EU

TM registration in Europe consists of the following steps:

• Contacting specialists who will determine if your TM is unique. If not, you will have to make a new logo.
• Submitting an application to EUIPO, the intellectual property office. This can be done in writing or online through the regulator's website. When applying you have to specify the company's business scope. This information will go into a special database.
• The examination period takes a month, and the application is processed during this timeframe. If the inspector finds a problem, you will receive a notice describing it. Usually it is related to the formulation and the distinctiveness of the logo. If this is the case, you have 2 months to solve the problem.
• Publication in the EU Trademark Bulletin after successful examination. Next you have 3 months to let the owners of other TMs study your mark. If they find a repetition, they can file a protest, after which the application may be partially or totally rejected. A dispute can last for 2 or more years, so it is very important to carefully study the uniqueness of your mark before applying.
• Trademark issuance. If there are no objections, the EUIPO approves the TM. The registration certificate is issued 6 months after publication. After that, you have the legal right to use it in any EU country. You may now start displaying the ® symbol wherever your trademark is visible, including on packaging, ad signs, and websites.

Important: EUIPO registers TMs, but does not monitor their use or cloning. So if you don't want your trademark to be duplicated by someone else, you have to control its usage yourself.

How to register a TM in the EU quickly

For a quick registration of a TM in Europe 2022 contact IT-OFFSHORE experts.