Protecting your trade mark in the EU

Following the new developments in relation to EU trade mark protection, this is a recap on how you can secure protection of your trade mark in the European Union.

If you are looking to expand your business beyond the UK, it is essential that your trade mark protection is also extended.

The best way to ensure that your trade mark will not be infringed through the EU is to submit an application for a European Union Trade Mark.

This will give you protection across the 28 member states of the European Union through one application.

An application is now submitted to the European Union Intellectual Property Office and does carry a fee. To register a mark for protection in one class of goods or services, there is a fee of €850.

While this may seem an unnecessary expense, it is essential to ensure that your brand is protected if you are looking to expand as if you don’t and a third party uses your mark without your permission, it will be a very difficult and expensive process to regain control over the mark.

Before you move forward with your application, however, you need to ensure that the mark you want to register is available. You can do this by allowing The Trademarkroom to conduct a search for you. This is essential to prevent any infringement claims appearing later on down the line.

From beginning to end, an EU application can take about 5-9 months.

Throughout the whole process, The Trademarkroom can guide you through each step and explain anything you may not understand.

To kick-start your EU protection, contact Jane Coyle today!

By Ellis Sweetenham