Trademark registration

It protects the registered sign in relation to the goods and services covered by the registration, within its territory. It does not give ownership of a word for every purpose. The choice of sign and the specification should reflect how customers encounter your business.

A clearance search helps identify earlier marks and other rights that could obstruct use or registration. We agree the territories, variants and search depth, then assess the results. No search eliminates every risk, but a timely review can inform the choice of name before a launch investment.

The work starts with the applicant, the sign and the goods and services. After filing, the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property examines the application and may raise objections. Registration is published, after which holders of qualifying earlier marks have an opportunity to oppose.

The IPI does not examine conflicts with earlier marks as part of the ordinary application examination. Acceptance therefore does not establish that using the mark is free from third-party claims. Clearance and monitoring serve separate purposes from the registration procedure.

For a Swiss national registration, opposition must be filed within three months of publication. Different events can govern deadlines for other routes or territories. If you receive a notice or spot a conflicting registration, send the publication and correspondence promptly so the relevant deadline can be checked.

The specification describes the activities for which protection is sought and is organized using the Nice Classification. We work from the actual offering and credible expansion plans. A class number alone is not a complete description, and adding new coverage after filing generally requires a further application.

A Swiss national filing covers Switzerland. Eligible applicants can use the Madrid System to seek protection in selected member territories based on a national or regional application or registration. Each designated territory applies its own rules; an international filing is not a universal trademark right.

The number of marks, classes and territories, search scope, objections and opposition all affect the work. We separate professional fees from official charges and foreign counsel costs. We can plan the preparation and filing milestones, but examination and contested proceedings depend on the relevant office and circumstances.

Company-name rights, unfair-competition rules and other protections may be relevant, depending on the facts. They do not provide the same basis as a suitable trademark registration. Before relying on prior use alone, we review the use, reputation, market and available evidence.

Swiss trademark protection runs for ten years from filing and can be renewed for further ten-year periods. Genuine use also matters: after the statutory five-year grace period, non-use can expose the right to challenge. Keep dated examples of commercial use and ensure renewal responsibilities are clear.

The applicant should fit the intended ownership and licensing structure. We check whether the company already exists, who currently uses the name and whether any assignment is required. A word mark, a logo and later brand variants may also need different filing decisions.

The engagement can include examination correspondence, registration reporting and coordination of international filings. Watching services, renewals, assignments, license recordals and opposition are specified separately so that someone is clearly responsible for each future deadline and decision.