What is a trademark?

A trademark is a sign that distinguishes the goods or services of one business from those of other businesses. Trademarks are protected as intellectual property.

How can I protect my trademark?

At the national or regional level, trademark protection can be obtained through registration, which involves filing an application with the national or regional trademark office and paying the required fees. At the international level, you have two options: you may either file a separate trademark application with the trademark office of each country where protection is sought, or you may apply through other registration systems such as the Madrid System (WIPO), the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), or the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI).

What rights does trademark registration enjoy?

In principle, trademark registration grants the exclusive right to use the registered trademark. This means that the trademark may be used exclusively by its owner or licensed to another party in exchange for a fee. Registration provides legal certainty and strengthens the rights holder’s position, for example in the event of litigation.

How long does trademark protection last?

The term of trademark registration varies, but it is generally ten years. It can be renewed indefinitely upon payment of additional fees. Trademark rights are private rights and are enforced through court orders.

What types of trademarks can be registered?

A word or a combination of words, letters, and numbers can easily constitute a trademark. However, trademarks may also consist of figurative elements, symbols, three-dimensional features (such as the shape or packaging of a product), non-visible signs (such as sounds or scents), or color shades used as distinctive features — the possibilities are almost limitless.

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