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International Trademark

Similar to Intellectual Property rights, all jurisdictions have different regulations on the right to trademark registration. In addition, this right is also influenced by mutual agreements concluded between certain jurisdictions at the regional or international level.

Each jurisdiction of the world has its own trademark registration process and procedures, so the registration process will cause some problems for applicants. Therefore, governments of many jurisdictions have come to an agreement on the common trademark registration process to simplify the process.

By registering an international level trademark, your business brand will be protected across more than 106 jurisdictions, along with other benefits comes with the registered trademark:

  • Build brand recognition among the global market
  • Defend against competitors’ use of a trademark
  • Monetize the business’s intellectual property
  • Prevent confusion and fraud
  • Protect the business brand value and investment

The Madrid system is an international trademark registration system managed by the International Bureau, a common agreement of more than 106 jurisdictions to facilitate the registration of trademarks in many jurisdictions in the world.

List of jurisdictions that have signed the Madrid Agreement:

  1. Afghanistan
  2. African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI)
  3. Albania
  4. Algeria
  5. Antigua and Barbuda
  6. Armenia
  7. Australia
  8. Azerbaijan
  9. Bahrain
  10. Belarus
  11. Belgium
  12. Bhutan
  13. Bosnia and Herzegovina
  14. Botswana
  15. Brazil
  16. Brunei Darussalam
  17. Bulgaria
  18. Cambodia
  19. Canada
  20. China
  21. Colombia
  22. Croatia
  23. Cuba
  24. Cyprus
  25. Czech Republic
  26. Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
  27. Denmark
  28. Egypt
  29. Estonia
  30. Eswatini
  31. European Union
  32. Faroe Islands
  33. Finland
  34. France
  35. Gambia
  36. Georgia
  37. Germany
  38. Ghana
  39. Greece
  40. Greenland
  41. Hungary
  42. Iceland
  43. India
  44. Indonesia
  45. Iran (Islamic Republic of)
  46. Ireland
  47. Israel
  48. Italy
  49. Japan
  50. Kazakhstan
  51. Kenya
  52. Kyrgyzstan
  53. Lao People’s Democratic Republic
  54. Latvia
  55. Lesotho
  56. Liberia
  57. Liechtenstein
  58. Lithuania
  59. Luxembourg
  60. Madagascar
  61. Malawi
  62. Malaysia
  63. Mexico
  64. Monaco
  65. Mongolia
  66. Montenegro
  67. Morocco
  68. Mozambique
  69. Namibia
  70. Netherlands
  71. New Zealand
  72. North Macedonia
  73. Norway
  74. Oman
  75. Philippines
  76. Poland
  77. Portugal
  78. Republic of Korea
  79. Republic of Moldova
  80. Romania
  81. Russian Federation
  82. Rwanda
  83. Samoa
  84. San Marino
  85. Sao Tome and Principe
  86. Serbia
  87. Sierra Leone
  88. Singapore
  89. Slovakia
  90. Slovenia
  91. Spain
  92. Sudan
  93. Sweden
  94. Switzerland
  95. Syrian Arab Republic
  96. Tajikistan
  97. Thailand
  98. Tunisia
  99. Turkey
  100. Turkmenistan
  101. Ukraine
  102. United Kingdom
  103. United States of America
  104. Uzbekistan
  105. Vietnam
  106. Zambia
  107. Zimbabwe
FAQs

FAQs

1. How to avoid trademark infringement in the UK?

Trademark infringement in the UK can lead to legal disputes, financial penalties, and harm to your reputation. When you are about to start a business, being proactive about not infringing is the way to stay in compliance and safeguard your brand.

Key Steps to Avoid Trademark Infringement

1. Conduct a Comprehensive Trademark Search

Before choosing a business name, logo, or slogan, undertake a valid trademark search on the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) database. This will confirm your chosen mark does not infringe on registered marks. Search for:

  • The same or similar names within the same trade.
  • Variations in spelling, pronunciation, or appearance.
  • Unregistered marks that may have acquired rights through use.

2. Register Your Own Trademark

For protecting your brand, UKIPO trademark registration is highly recommended. A registered trademark provides exclusive rights and legal relief from others' unauthorised use.

3. Avoid Using Similar or Misleading Marks

Ensure your brand ingredients (name, logo, package, etc.) are sufficiently dissimilar to other trademarks. Infringing risks are high if:

  • Your mark is equivalent to a popular brand.
  • It relates to similar or closely linked goods and services.
  • It can fool consumers into associating your business with some other business.

4. Monitor Trademark Laws and Decisions

Trademark laws and decisions evolve. Watch for developments in the law and industry-specific regulations to stay current.

5. Ask the Law if You Are Not Sure

If not sure whether your name will infringe on someone else's trademark, you can consult an intellectual property (IP) attorney or trademark specialist. Advice from an attorney can minimize risk before you launch your business.

Key Considerations

  • Infringement actions can result in lawsuits, financial compensation, and compulsory rebranding.
  • Unregistered trademarks may also enjoy legal protection based on earlier use.
  • Early trademark clearance and registration can shield your business from impending lawsuits.

In conducting due diligence and securing legal protection, businesses can establish a strong brand and minimize the risk of infringement in the UK market.

2. How to register a trademark in Vietnam?

The process of registering a trademark in Vietnam will be conducted with the National Office of Intellectual Property (NOIP), the governmental authority for intellectual property in Vietnam. Registering a trademark in Vietnam is done as follows:

  1. Trademark Search: Look for your trademark to be original and different from similar ones that are already in use.
  2. Prepare the Application: Gather the following:
    • Trademark image (logo, wordmark, etc.)
    • Applicant details
    • List of goods/services (based on Nice Classification)
    • Power of Attorney (if using an agent)
  3. Submit the Application: File online or in person at the National Office of Intellectual Property (NOIP) and pay the filing fee. Online filing requires a valid Vietnamese digital signature. Foreign applicants are advised to use a licensed IP agent in Vietnam.
  4. Examination: NOIP will review your application for completeness and uniqueness (usually 9-12 months, may extend to 14–18 months depending on objections or document amendments).
  5. Publication: If approved, your trademark will be published for 2 months for potential opposition.
  6. Registration: If no opposition, you’ll receive a Trademark Registration Certificate.
  7. Protection: Valid for 10 years, renewable indefinitely.

=> Full Information: Vietnam Trademark Search

3. How to register a company logo in Malaysia?

Registering a company logo in Malaysia is a business decision to protect your brand identity and gain exclusive rights over your visual property. With experience handling over 10 years of foreign clients in intellectual property issues, I can guide you through the necessary process in order to assure that your logo is registered lawfully in accordance with Malaysian legislation.

1. Determine Eligibility

Prior to making an application, make sure your logo is unique and can be registered as a trademark under the Trademarks Act 2019. The logo should not be misleading or deceptively identical to existing registered trademarks in Malaysia. The logo may consist of words, symbols, images, shapes, or combinations thereof.

2. Conduct a Trademark Search

A pre-trademark search is highly recommended to ascertain whether there are similar or existing marks. This minimizes the chances of objection or refusal during the application process.

We, as consultants, assist you in conducting a thorough search via the Malaysian IP Office (MyIPO) database to make sure your proposed logo is unique and can be registered.

3. Prepare and File the Application

The trademark application is filed with the Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO). Details required are:

  • Applicant details (individual or business)
  • Clear representation of the logo
  • Description of goods/services to which the logo pertains (broken down according to the Nice Classification system)

You can file online or in person. We typically make filings on behalf of clients, where we double-check and follow procedure requirements.

4. Application Review and Publication

Upon filing, MyIPO examines the application for compliance and conflicts. Upon approval, the logo is gazetted in the Government Gazette in an attempt to call for opposition from the general public.

Where no objection is received within two months from advertisement, the application is processed for registration.

5. Registration and Protection

Upon successful registration, the Certificate of Registration will be granted and will confer the owner with sole rights to use the logo in Malaysia for 10 years at first instance, and every 10 years thereafter, subject to no restrictions.

6. Our Support

Being a dependable IP and offshore consultancy firm, we provide end-to-end assistance, ranging from logo checking and classification to trademark search, filing, and follow-up at MyIPO. We ensure your brand assets are secure as per Malaysian standards and your future business plan.

For businesses looking for reliable support in company and intellectual property registration in Malaysia, Offshore Company Services offers comprehensive services, including trademark registration, corporate setup, and compliance guidance, helping secure your brand and business assets efficiently.

Learn more: Register Logo in Malaysia: A Detailed Process for Businesses

4. What cannot be trademarked in the UK?

Trademarks are a UK business asset that protects brand identity and prevents unauthorized use. Not all things, however, can be trademarked. In determining a trademark application, it is important to have an understanding of what limitations are imposed by the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO).

  1. Generic or Descriptive Terms

    The trademark must be distinctive. These are generic words which directly describe an article or a service (e.g., "Fresh Apples" for a fruit shop). Descriptive words and common words in an industry (e.g., "Best Quality") are rejected too unless they acquire distinctiveness by being usual.

  2. Deceptive or Misleading Marks

    Any suggestion misleading to the public about the nature, quality, or source of goods or services will be rejected. For instance, a notice suggesting that a product is organic but is not so would be rejected.

  3. Objectionable or Illegal Matter

    Objectionable, obscene, or discriminatory words, pictures, or slogans in trademarks are not permitted. Further, marks suggesting illegal conduct cannot be registered.

  4. National Symbols and Protected Emblems

    Trademarks involving national flags, royal crowns, official stamps, or protected marks (such as the Olympic rings) without authorization will be rejected. Such marks are within UK law and international agreements.

  5. Identical or Confusingly Similar Marks

    A similar or substantially similar trademark to an existing mark in the same trade will be rejected. The UKIPO checks for inconsistency to avoid customer confusion.

  6. Functioning Shapes for a Purpose

    Where a shape is defined solely by purpose (i.e., the shape of a tool that is necessary to enable it to be functional), it cannot be trademarked. This exclusion prevents monopolization of functional shapes that need to be put at the disposal of all competitors.

For companies desirous of registering trademarks in the UK, effective search and expert advice can enable them to surpass such constraints successfully. If you require help in company formation and intellectual property protection, it is highly advisable to approach an experienced offshore service provider.

5. Are UK trademarks protected internationally?

Trademarks in the UK are not automatically protected worldwide. In other words, if a business registers a trademark in the United Kingdom, then the protection applies only within the territorial boundary of the UK. However, for businesses that need international protection, machinery is available. Among them is the Madrid System, under the auspices of the World Intellectual Property Organization. Under this regime, UK trademark proprietors can make a single international application covering various countries and thereby will enable the acquiring of rights in third-party jurisdictions. The Madrid System allows the applicant to choose specific countries for protection based on their business requirements; in such cases, the Madrid route may be faster and cheaper than filing separately in each country of interest.

Read more: Intellectual Property & Trademark service fees in the UK

Another route is to apply for trademarks directly in the desired countries. In case of businesses operating, or targeting a few specific markets outside the UK, this option is the most followed. This ensures that direct protection is given under each jurisdiction's legal framework and can sometimes offer stronger options in terms of enforcement.

It should also be further considered that businesses in the UK operating in the European Union may want to consider filing an EU trademark. An EU Trademark covers trademark protection throughout all EU member states with just one application, although the UK is no longer in the EU, UK companies desiring to sell products in EU markets quite often find the EUTM useful for broader regional protection.

The bottom line is that, even though UK trademarks per se do not receive protection outside the United Kingdom, protection in countries outside the United Kingdom can still be pursued through the Madrid System, direct filings, or EU trademarks.

6. How to renew a trademark in Singapore?

In Singapore, applicants need to renew trademarks with due process and procedure in front of the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore. Trademark registration in Singapore is provided for ten years from the date of application and requires further renewal upon expiration for its legal protection to continue.

Read more: Trademark Registration in Singapore

First and foremost, the trademark owners should apply for renewals six months before the date of expiration to avoid the lapse of the same. This is quite important, since one could also lose their rights and protection over such a brand or logo if they fail to apply for the renewal of the same. In relation to that, IPOS has an online portal known as IP2SG, where one would need to log in, access their specific trademark details, and apply for the renewal.

The application form requires basic information about the trademark, which will be the number of the registration and original detail of the trademark. After checking these details, payment corresponding to the additional classes the trademark covers will have to be paid in the form of a renewal fee, usually fixed by IPOS.

IPOS allows six months of grace from the date of expiry, if not completed within the standard period. An applicant can still renew trademarks within this time, provided they pay an additional late fee. If the trademark is not renewed within this six-month grace period from the date of expiry, it will be removed from the register, and a new application will be needed to obtain protection once again, with the trademark open to examination and approval once more.

In a nutshell, the applicants are obliged to take the advance step for the renewal of any trademark in Singapore, go through the online renewal procedure called IP2SG, and pay all the fees due on time. This will ensure the protection and exclusivity of the trademark for continuous coverage with full commercial and legal right in Singapore.

7. What constitutes the use of a trademark in Malta?

The use of a trademark in Malta refers to the genuine commercial exploitation of a registered or pending trademark in the course of trade. The concept is defined under the Trademarks Act (Cap. 596 of the Laws of Malta) and is essential for both the enforcement and maintenance of trademark rights. Key elements of trademark use in Malta:

1. Genuine Use in the Course of Trade

The trademark must be actively used in connection with the goods or services for which it is registered. Use must not be merely symbolic or defensive, it must demonstrate a real intent to market or sell the products or services under the mark.

2. Use by the Trademark Owner or Authorized Parties

Use can be made directly by the registered proprietor or with their consent (e.g., through licensees or franchise partners), provided such use maintains the origin-indicating function of the trademark.

3. Use in Malta or the EU

Since Malta is an EU member state, use of the trademark in any EU country may qualify as valid use within Malta, particularly in cases involving EU Trade Marks (EUTMs).

4. Acceptable Forms of Use

  • Affixing the mark to products, packaging, or labels
  • Using the mark in advertisements, websites, or commercial documentation
  • Offering goods or services under the trademark
  • Importing/exporting goods bearing the trademark

Learn more: Trademark Registration in Malta

8. How long does a UK trademark last?

It can be said that a trademark in the UK is registered for the initial 10-year period from its registration date. This trademark exclusive rights are given to the owner who wants to use the trademark covering its goods or services within the UK. During this duration, the owner is protected during unauthorized use or infringement in that category by third parties.

It very well may be restored for an endless number of progressive times of 10 years each after the underlying 10 years. To keep up with the brand name's legitimacy, the proprietor ought to document a restoration application and pay the fitting charges before the date of expiry. The UK IPO usually sends reminders six months in advance of the expiration of the trademark to help owners avoid unintentional lapses.

If no renewal application is filed within that time, the mark enters a six-month grace period during which renewal may still be effected by paying an additional fee for late renewal. In the event of no renewal during this time, the trademark is removed from the register and becomes available for third-party registration.

Owners are encouraged to actively use their trademark. If a trademark is not used for a continuous period of five years after registration, it may be subject to revocation for non-use.

Maintaining a UK trademark involves more than renewal; owners must also monitor for potential infringements and enforce their rights when necessary. This ensures the trademark's integrity and market value over time.

To summarize, the trademark in the UK offers long-term protection and can even be considered to extend indefinitely. Rights and values are protected by appropriate management and timely renewal applications.

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