International trademark registration has become one of the most important, indispensable strategic steps. It is considered the cornerstone for expansion, growth, and protection of the identity of your products and services from cases of infringement and exploitation.
Also, registering a trademark locally does not provide full protection for your trademark, so it is important to register the trademark internationally to protect the identity of your company and its market value. To know everything related to the process of registering a trademark internationally and the importance of this process.
Registering a trademark internationally guarantees you all your legal rights and enables you to take all legal measures against any exploitation or infringement.
Registering a trademark internationally suggests your credibility and enhances the trust and loyalty of customers to you and their adherence to the products and services you provide as well.
The trademark is the cornerstone that contributes to raising and increasing the value of the company, which enables you to attract investors and partners.
Registering a trademark internationally facilitates the ability to expand and spread in global markets and provide your services and products in new and different environments.
You need to register a trademark internationally in the event of:
• The need to expand into new markets.
• Protect the brand name from use by competitors.
• Ensure legal protection in foreign markets to avoid imitation or plagiarism.
• Provide legal security for practicing business internationally.
Several international systems allow the registration of a trademark, the most prominent of which are:
This system is known as the "Madrid Protocol" or the "Madrid Agreement", and it is a system that works to provide the simplest and most effective means of registering a trademark in several countries through a single application submitted to "WIPO", which covers more than 120 countries.
It has not been fully implemented yet, but it aims to register the trademark in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries through a unified application.
Enables you to register the trademark through a single application in all countries of the European Union.
It includes several African countries where the application is registered with the African Intellectual Property Office and covers all member states.
Where the trademark is registered in each country independently through intellectual property offices as is the case in Saudi Arabia.
1_ Your trademark registration certificate in your country.
2_ All details related to the trademark.
3_ A list of the countries in which you wish to register your trademark.
4_ Submit a clear copy of the trademark "pictures, drawings".
5_ Proof that you have paid the international trademark registration fees.
To register a trademark internationally, some important steps must be followed, which are:
A comprehensive search must be conducted to ensure that this trademark is not used and that there is nothing similar to it. Using the available databases helps you verify this.
All papers and documents must be prepared in advance and the data and details for registering a trademark must be filled in accurately.
You can choose the one that suits you from these two systems, either:
It is the most famous international system for registering a trademark, as it is based on the principle of "one registration, multiple protection", where one trademark is registered in several countries through one application.
This is done through the intellectual property authority of each country, where it is done through separate applications submitted in the country in which you wish to protect your trademark.
After completing the preparation of all papers and documents and determining the appropriate system, an application for registering the trademark internationally is submitted, and then pay all the required fees.
After completing the application procedures, this application must be followed up until it is reviewed and approved. You may be asked to submit more documents and papers for clarification.
If your application is approved, you will receive an international registration certificate that grants you the exclusive rights to use and protect your trademark in the countries mentioned in your application.
The costs of registering a trademark internationally vary depending on several basic factors, which are:
1_ The type of system through which the registration is done.
2_ The number of countries in which the registration is required.
3_ The categories covered by this trademark.
The duration of registering a trademark depends on the type of system followed, and by applying the Madrid system, we find that the registration process usually takes from 12 to 18 months to obtain approval. The registration application is then submitted to the WIPO organization. The registration period also varies depending on the country in which the registration is required.
To protect a trademark, some important steps must be implemented, which are:
1_ Register your trademark with the competent authority locally, such as the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property, or internationally through the Madrid system.
2_ Your trademark must be distinctive and different from other trademarks, and you can verify this through the website of the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property.
3_Choose a unique, distinctive, and not common name.
4_Avoid misleading names.
5_It must be identical and similar to what is stated in the terms and conditions and religious and public morals.
6_It must be in Arabic if registered within Saudi Arabia.
Renewing your trademark ensures that your trademark continues to be protected. To renew your trademark, you must:
1_Renew your trademark before the end of the protection period, which is usually 10 years.
2_Submit a renewal application to the Intellectual Property Authority before the end of the protection period.
3_Pay all trademark registration renewal fees.
4_If you need to update some data, do so.
5_There is evidence that this trademark is used in some countries.
6_If this trademark is registered through the Madrid system, an application is submitted to the WIPO Authority, and this application includes all countries in which you want to register.
1_Use a specialized institution such as Etmaam to help you with all procedures and avoid making any mistakes.
2_Monitor the market to ensure that there are no violations of your trademark rights.
3_Your trademark information and data must be updated continuously by legal requirements.
Companies usually face several challenges while registering their trademark, the most prominent of which are:
1_ High costs when choosing several countries for registration.
2_ Your trademark registration may be rejected due to its similarity to other trademarks.
3_ A delay in reviewing the application by the countries of ours leads to a delay in the final approval process.
Do you want to expand the scope of your company's work and aspire to spread and grow the products and services you provide? Contact us to register your trademark internationally and start expanding and prospering legally and safely.
Yes, the Madrid system allows you to modify the trademark after registering it without the need to re-register in each country.
In some countries, proof of use of the trademark is required to ensure continued protection, otherwise, this trademark may be canceled in these countries.
Complete the progress of trademark registration services With Etmaam, contact us now for more details
November 21, 2024
- بواسطة Sultan Al-Qahtani
