How to register a trademark in...

Protecting your trademark and ensuring its exclusive use require you to take some important and necessary steps, such as registering it legally. What do you need before starting to register your trademark?

In this article, we will discuss how to register a trademark, trademark registration procedures, and everything related to this process.

Types of trademarks in Saudi Arabia

There are many types of trademarks in Saudi Arabia that are classified according to the trademark system adopted in the Kingdom. The most prominent of these trademarks are:

Individual trademark

It is a trademark used by one person or small companies to distinguish their products and services.

Collective trademark

It is used by a group of individuals or companies cooperating in a project together to distinguish their products and services, and the use of this trademark is usually linked to a union or association.

Unique trademark

It is a trademark dedicated to a specific service or commodity to build a distinctive identity for this commodity and cannot be used to distinguish any other product.

Famous trademark

This trademark enjoys wide fame in scope and has a high level of distinction as it is known to the public and due to the fame of these great trademarks, the law works to protect them in particular.

Service Mark

This mark is used to distinguish services and not products from each other, such as education, banking, or insurance.

Defensive Trademarks

This mark is used only to protect against unauthorized use and is not used in the market. It is necessary to protect intellectual property rights in the event of similar marks.

Certification Mark

It is used to confirm a product or service that has been approved by a certain authority. This mark guarantees the characteristics and quality of this product and the materials used in its manufacture.

The importance of registering your trademark in Saudi Arabia

Distinguishing yourself from competitors

It helps you build a strong and distinctive identity for your products and services compared to competitors, and this distinction is officially confirmed by registering your trademark.

Knowing and understanding competitors

This happens by accessing databases of registered trademarks, which is a great advantage for business owners. You can search for your services and products and find and study the registered trademarks in the same field.

Trademark Exclusivity

The main benefit of registering a trademark is that it gives you exclusive rights that allow you to exploit your trademark in selling and marketing products without competition.

Long-term protection of the trademark

As stipulated in Article 22 of the Trademark System, the owner of this trademark can use it permanently throughout the protection period, which is 10 years.

Verifying the eligibility of the trademark

Before starting the registration process, it is necessary to verify the eligibility of this trademark and that it is similar to what is stated in the regulations and provisions is unique,e and does not resemble any other trademark to ensure that the application does not fail due to the lack of conditions.

Forms of trademarks eligible for registration

 1-Text marks such as written logos and names.

  2 Logos such as symbols and designs.

3  Composite marks that combine symbols and texts.

Trademark Inquiry

One of the most important procedures that must be done before registering your trademark and this is done by following some basic steps.

1 - Visit the Ministry of Commerce website.

 2 - Go to the list of electronic services.

 3 - Choose the "Trademark Inquiry" command.

 4 - Write the trade name you want to search for in the search box.

 5 - Specify whether you want to search by approximate method or by matching.

 6 - Click on the search command.

 7 - You will be transferred to a page containing a list of registered trademarks and some detailed information and data about them.

Trademark registration procedures

1 - search for the trademark and whether it is not already registered or used.

 2 - Submit a trademark registration application to the competent authorities.

 3 - Pay the fees required for the trademark registration process.

 4 - Review the application by the competent authority.

 5 - After the application is approved, you will receive a certificate of registration of your trademark.

How to register a trademark in Saudi Arabia

To register your trademark, you must follow some basic steps, which are:

1 - Enter the website of the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property.

2 -Choose trademark registration services

3 -  Go to the trademarks section designated for this service.

4 - Fill in the required data accurately and then submit it.

5 - A fee will be imposed to study the application, so pay it.

6 After paying the fees, the application will be studied, and then a decision may be made: either rejection with amendments or final rejection

7- If the application is accepted, a publication invoice will be issued, pay it

8 - After the publication phase ends without facing any obstacles, you must pay the final invoice fees within 30 days of issuing the certificate

9 - Print the certificate.

Obligations of the trademark owner

The trademark owner must adhere to some matters to avoid the cancellation of his trademark in the event of any of the following:

1 - Not using the trademark for 5 consecutive years.

2 - This trademark violated morals and order or was registered in a manner that calls for it.

3 - If the trademark has not been renewed during the last year.

4 - Registering this trademark based on false information data and fraud.

 5 - Assigning to another person and granting him the license in an illegal manner.

Trademark Owner Rights

The trademark owner has some rights, the most prominent of which are:- 

1 - To be responded to by the competent authority within 90 days from the time of submitting his application.

2 - Submitting a request for amendment or grievance within 60 days if the registration process is rejected or suspended.

3 - Full protection throughout the validity period of the trademark.

4 - Submitting the transfer of ownership of the trademark and advertising it.

5 - Writing to any person to use his trademark for some services and goods, provided that the validity period of the trademark is not exceeded.

6 - Requesting compensation from any person who commits violations against his trademark.

Procedures for Canceling Your Trademark Registration

To cancel your trademark registration, you must follow the following:

1 - Submit an official request to the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property to cancel the registration of your trademark.

2 - Submit all the required papers according to the regulations and systems.

3 - If someone other than you is carrying out the cancellation process, he must wait 5 years from the registration of this trademark.

4 -If you have priority over the trademark, you can file a lawsuit before the specified period.

5 - Before publishing the news of canceling the trademark.

Trademark registration cost

The cost of registering a trademark includes many fees such as

1 - Trademark registration application fees.

2 - Trademark publication fees in official newspapers.

3 - Trademark registration fees and issuance of registration certificate.

The most important frequently asked questions about how to register a trademark

1 - How to print a trademark?

To print your trademark, log in to your account on the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property platform, go to the trademark request, download the certificate to your device, and print it using the printer connected to your device.

2 - How to modify a trademark?

Log in to your account and choose a modification request, then modify, attach the required documents, and pay the fees required for the modification process, you will be notified via email or the platform to review the proposed modifications to ensure that they comply with the legal conditions.

Start your trademark registration journey with easy and simple steps with completion.