Trademarks

Trademark registration provides its owner with an exclusive right to use the registered trademark and to prevent its use by third parties. A trademark is a sign capable of distinguishing goods or services of one enterprise from those of other enterprises. In most jurisdictions, a trademark is valid for 10 years following the date of filing and may be renewed every 10 years indefinitely. A trademark may be registered on national, EU and international levels. Signs indicating a specific geographical origin can be protected by geographical indications (GIs).

Are you interested in what the entire trademark registration process entails and the costs involved in obtaining and maintaining a trademark? Learn what needs to be done on your end - and what can we do for you.

Call us at +420 543 217 593, email us at info@kaniasedlaksmola.cz or make an appointment at our office at Mendlovo namesti 1a in Brno.

Trademark Application Timeline

Filing:

The filing date of a trademark application establishes a priority right vis-à-vis third parties. In contrast to priority rights for patents and utility models, the duration of the priority right for trademarks is limited to 6 months.

Examination:

After filing, the trademark application is examined by the Industrial Property Office of the Czech Republic (or the European Union Intellectual Property Office for EU trademarks). Upon conclusion of the examination, the trademark application is officially published. The publication date marks the beginning of the 3-months opposition period in which the application may be opposed by third parties.

Registration & Maintenance:

Upon expiry of the 3-months opposition period, if no opposition is filed, the trademark is granted protection and registered. Both Czech and EU trademarks are valid for 10 years following the date of filing and are renewable every 10 years indefinitely.

Trademark Application Types

1

National (Czech) Trademark Application

The registration process is managed by the Industrial Property Office of the Czech Republic and the territorial scope of the resulting registered trademark is limited to the Czech Republic.

2

European Union Trademark Application

The registration process is managed by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and the territorial scope of the resulting registered EU trademark covers all 27 member states of the European Union.
3

International Registration

An international registration under the Madrid System of international trademarks has to be based on an existing national/regional trademark application or trademark registration. The Madrid System is managed by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and provides an opportunity to register a trademark in up to 132 countries by way of a single international trademark application.
4

National Trademark Application Abroad

The registration process is managed by the IP office of the relevant country.