Protecting Trademarks Internationally: 10 Top Designated Countries

Monday, 4 December 2023

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International Trademark Am Badar & Am Badar Intellectual Property (IP) Law Firm

International trademark has been commonly applied by many major brands. For any business planning to spread their brand on a global scale, it is essential to understand international trademarks.

Are you interested in digging deeper on this subject? Would you like a comprehensive breakdown of international trademarks, its benefits, several designated countries, as well as its registration steps? If so, read our article below

Additionally, you should be aware of all forms of trademarks, even the lesser-known use such as 3D Trademarks. Read about 3D Trademarks in our article, Get To Know: 3D Trademark.

International Trademark

In regards to trademarks and jurisdiction, there are primarily two alternatives for registering a trademark: national registration and international registration. International registration entails the submission of trademark protection applications in each country where the mark intends to be registered.

Separate applications must be submitted in each jurisdiction, which can result in a lengthy and costly procedure. However, there is a streamlined and economically viable alternative for corporations seeking to safeguard their brand on an international level. A procedural treaty known as the Madrid Protocol permits single applications that simultaneously apply to multiple countries. It is managed by the International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO).

By implementing this system, the procedure for acquiring global safeguards for trademarks is optimized, and the expenses linked to submitting numerous applications in various nations are diminished.

5 Benefits of Registering International Trademark

1. Legal Protections towards Competition and Misuse

By utilizing the Madrid Protocol to register a trademark on a global scale, businesses can safeguard their brands against infringement and competition in numerous jurisdictions.

With international registrations, rivals from the relevant jurisdictions are deterred from trademark infringing actions such as unauthorized use of a brand or employing copycat symbols that may cause confusion among clients or harm an organization’s reputation.

2. Builds Customer Trust

International trademark registration not only affords companies legal safeguards against infringement and competition but also establishes business credibility with customers.

This is accomplished through their exhibition of a strong commitment to safeguarding their brand identity and reputation on an international scale. Customers are more inclined to engage with reputable brands due to the assurance that they have purchased authentic merchandise, as opposed to counterfeit or stolen goods originating from the branding endeavors of competing companies.

3. Develops Enterprise Value

A trademark has the potential to increase the value of a company by rendering it more appealing to prospective purchasers or investors. The possession of a globally acknowledged trademark enables one to showcase that their brand is valuable and is recognized on an international level.

4. New Business Prospects

Additionally, international trademark registration protects your intellectual property (IP), which may facilitate business opportunities such as partnerships and licensing. These advantageous prospects may result in augmented earnings and avenues for expansion.

5. Attenuates the Danger of Protracted Litigation

A registered trademark serves as evidence that your mark does not constitute an infringement of an existing trademark. Furthermore, A legal battle to obtain protection for your trademark can be protracted, expensive, and time-consuming. It is easier to contest registrations of copycat trademarks if your trademark is already registered, otherwise, it may be difficult to establish that you are the rightful proprietor of the IP in the event of a dispute.

10 Top Countries for International Trademark Registrations

In which nations should you register your trademark? Rarely do budgets permit everything, so you must establish priorities. Well, based on the locations of all other submissions, China is likely the answer. Due to the fact that China is a single-class nation, multiple marks are required to register a trademark that covers multiple classes of products and services. For comparison, in the UK and the European Union, a single application is sufficient for an unlimited number of classes.

Excluding China, the subsequent ten most frequent filing destinations are as follows:

USA
India
Republic of Korea
Brazil
Japan
European Union
Mexico
Turkey
France

Whether you are planning to register your trademark in those countries, it is better to acquire the services of the most reliable IP law firm that offers the best trademark matters services.

Steps to Register an International Trademark

This section outlines the steps involved in registering a trademark in foreign countries:

Utilize the National Trademark Office (Office of Origin) to submit your application;
Assessment undertaken by WIPO;
Assessment undertaken by National Offices.

Thus concludes our discussion about international trademarks. This information is essential for any businesses looking to expand their brand internationally. However, to ensure that the process is conducted in the smoothest and most proper way, we recommend that you consult us –Am Badar & Am Badar for we provide a variety of comprehensive trademark services. We also provide more insights about trademark matters! Contact us now!

If you are interested in learning more about trademarks, we provide a wealth of informative articles about the matter. Here is Legal Protection of Indecent Trademark based on Law No. 20 year 2016 concerning Trademark and Geographic Indications.