Why register your trademark internationally?
Trademark Specialist Maite says:
“The risk of you having problems with the use of your trademark is low if you protect it on all of the intended market!”
When you register your trademark internationally, you get a confirmation that the trademark is not already taken. With a registered international trademark, you can also be sure that you are not infringing on someone else’s rights. Through the international trademarks system (the Madrid System) you can protect a trademark in multiple countries simultaneously in a cost-effective manner.
The Madrid system
The international system for the registration of trademarks, the so-called Madrid system, is administered by the UN agency WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization), which has its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. Many – but not all – countries in the world have joined the Madrid System. This means that you can apply for trademark registration in several countries simultaneously and avoid paying legal fees for each country. If a trademark application is not approved in one country, it will not prevent the trademark application being approved in the other selected countries.
Registration process
You must have a basic registration in order to benefit from the favourable Madrid System. For a Swedish legal entity, a basic registration can either be a Swedish national trademark application or trademark registration, or an EU application or EU registration. It is beneficial if your basic registration is a registered and legally valid trademark as the international trademark application is dependent on the basic registration for five years. This means that if your basic registration is not approved, then the whole of your international trademark application will collapse and none of the fees will be paid back.
The different authorities
You can either submit your international trademark application to the Swedish Patent and Registration Office (PRV) or to the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). A formal review is carried out as soon as the trademark application reaches WIPO. If the international trademark application is approved by WIPO, then it is registered in the International Register and published in the WIPO Gazette of International Marks. WIPO then forwards it on to the countries you have selected, the so-called designated countries. National trademark authorities now take over and determine whether the trademark application is to be approved and finally registered.
Do you need help registering your international trademark?
We can help you register an international trademark. Consult us on how to register an international trademark. Feel free to read our References to see what our customers say about us.
