It is never an easy decision where to start a trademark application. We collected a few advantages and disadvantages to help you decide whether it is a good idea to file an EU trademark.

In most countries, the trademark holder has 5 years to commence the genuine use of the mark from the date of registration. What does it mean for your trademark registration strategy?

As well as individual marks, there are two other kinds of trade marks that can be registered – certification marks and collective marks. Collective marks are trade marks distinguishing the goods or services of members of a civil society organisation from the goods or services of others according to the quality, origin or other characteristics of goods or services bearing the collective mark.

Trade mark proprietors are usually not exactly patient when it comes to unauthorised or unlawful use of their trade mark, so you would better refrain from such attempts. Trade mark parodies, however, are usually exempt from the above rule.

A good trade mark gives confidence to consumers and urges them to keep buying the trade marked goods, thus solidifying the market position of the proprietor’s trade mark against competing manufacturers. Hence, trade marks are essential means of market competition. We have collected several functions of a trade mark to illustrate a handful of examples of how you can use your trade mark.