Community trademark registrations are handled by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) in Alicante, Spain. Registration of the Community Trademark is effected by filing one application in one of the five languages of the EUIPO and paying a single fee. The term of validity of the European trademark is 10 years with an option to extend it for another 10 years for an unlimited number of times.
Benefits Of The European Trademark
Obtaining a trademark protection document in all 28 European Union countries upon filing a single application and paying a single fee;
Submission of a single application with uniform formal requirements;
To avoid termination of the trademark validity on the grounds of non-use within 5 years it is enough to confirm its use only in one of the countries of the European Union.
Stages Of CTM Registration
1. Filing Of Application
The application shall be filed with the EUIPO and shall contain
• An application form specifying the applicant's data;
• The list of goods and services for which the trademark is applied for;
• A picture of the trademark;
• A single fee is charged for the application, the amount of which may vary depending on the number of specified classes of goods and services.
It should be noted that the applicant is entitled to priority within 6 months after filing an application for registration of an identical trademark in any country party to the Paris Convention.
2. Search
A search is made by EUIPO after the application is given a filing date. Search is necessary to identify already registered trademarks or those filed for registration which might later prevent registration of the applied-for trademark.
It is to be noted that an applicant can receive not only the main search report but also reports of the central industrial property offices of the member states of the Union. In this case, it is necessary to indicate which countries' reports are necessary and to pay the corresponding fee for each selected country. The search reports are to be submitted within 2 months from the filing date of the application.
3. Publication Of The Application
If the application satisfies all requirements, the EUIPO will publish the application.
Within 3 months from the publication of the application, third parties have the right to oppose the registration of the trademark.
4. Registration
If within 3 months from the date of publication no objections have been filed or they have been challenged, the mark is published in the official gazette and electronic version of the certificate of registration of the mark is sent to the applicant or representative of the applicant. A paper version of the certified or uncertified copy of the original certificate of registration may be issued upon request.
Register Right
Filing for a trademark in the European Union isn't simple or straightforward. Remember these steps when you or your company decide to register for a trademark in the EU to make it a smoother process.
