You may be doing your business successfully in your own country and thinking to expand it internationally then this question might come to your mind how to register a brand internationally. Protecting your brand internationally is also important. You are probably looking for ways to protect your intangible assets in different countries. Perversely, there is no such way but there are some regional agreements that give long protection in specific geographic areas.
Before that let’s examine the trademark, what precisely does trademarking a brand name mean, and the brand registration concept.
What is a Trademark?
A trademark is a type of IP in which a unique symbol or word(s) is practiced to represent a business or its products. Once registered, that same symbol or those words cannot be practiced by any other business as long as it continues in use and proper paperwork and fees are paid.
Other intellectual properties like patents that are granted for 20 years, trademarks never end. Organizations do need to apply for them and receive ownership confirmation with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office USPTO to claim protection from copycats.
Over some time, trademarks become synonymous with a company name so that you don’t even need to see the name to recognize a particular organization. For example, If you see the apple shape with the bite taken out that Apple uses as its logo, the golden arches McDonald’s register brand internationally decades ago, or the swoosh logo that Nike advantages on all of its products.
The fact that we simply associate symbols and words with companies and their brands is one of the biggest advantages of their use. When a customer sees a familiar logo or phrase, they have instant recognition which can drive preference and hence sales and profits.
Read more: Benefits of trademark
What Exactly Does Trademarking A Brand Name Mean?
Trademarking a brand name means nothing but brand name registration. It means that this brand name is yours and if anyone dares to use it to sell their products, you can sue them. You can trademark any of the following or even a combination of these elements:
- Letter
- Number
- Word
- Phrase
- Logo
- Graphic
- Smell
- Sound Mark or
- a Combination of Colours
Read more : What can be Trademarked
Brand Registration
The internet has connected the whole world and opened up new markets for the enterprise. Businesses are no longer restricted by geography and can quickly access new markets across the world. The rapid expansion of businesses into newer markets and increasing advertising costs have made the brand name protection necessary.
A brand could be a business name, product name, domain name, term, design slogan, logo, or other feature that differentiate a product or service from an entity from those of others. Branding is a must for all organizations that are into the manufacturing of goods or providing services. Brand registration involves multiple processes such as domain registration, trademark registration, business name registration, and copyright registration.
How to Register Brand Internationally?
It is possible to design a personalized strategy for your organization that allows you to register solely in the countries that protect your brand. You need to pick your registration destinations carefully.
While the list may vary slightly from one business to another. The following are the most lucrative countries that you should register your brand without investing too much time or money and for worldwide protection:
- United States
Being one of the most influential countries and the infinite mecca for entrepreneurs on the planet, this country can’t possibly be missing from your list of places to register. A mark registered in the US is protected at the federal level, giving it ample coverage on the North American continent. Registration in the US is inexpensive but can be bureaucratic, with registration time lasting anywhere from 12 months or longer.
- China
China is the world superpower with over 1,300 million inhabitants and the largest amount of exports worldwide. No doubt this market is crucial for any business operating on a global scale. It should be noted that China also tops the list of countries with counterfeit goods. Therefore, if you operate in this country and decide to put off registering your brand or mark, you might face the risk of copy-cats making counterfeit versions of your goods, bringing significant economic losses that are difficult to control. Keeping in mind that China is one of the largest and most populated countries worldwide, the cost to register a brand internationally is certainly worth it. The average processing duration for registration is approximately 12 months in China.
- Mexico
Neighbor to the US and inhabited by over 127 million people, it is the country with the highest population of Spanish speakers on the planet. It is of critical interest for any organization wishing to market goods or services to the Hispanic world. Regarding registration, Mexico’s legislation was recently reformed and aligning the procedure for registration closely with that of the United States. The whole process for standard registration takes roughly twelve months, although the cost is not the least as compared to some other countries still it is quite affordable.
- Africa (OAPI)
Another regional agreement that could bring benefits is the OAPI (Organisation Africaine de la Propriété Intellectuelle) in Africa, crucial for all those who provide products or services on the African continent. You can obtain protection in 17 countries (Burkina Faso, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Cameroon, Benin, the Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal Guinea-Bissau, Côte d’Ivoire, and Togo) in just one registration. Although the agreement doesn’t include all the African countries, it’s still a great way to invest and start your registration on the continent. The procedure varies between six and twelve months.
- European Union (EUIPO)
It is important to take advantage of the European Union’s intellectual property agreement, which permits a one registration system providing simultaneous registration in 28 countries. EUIPO agreements are effective in the UK until March 2019. The cost to register is very less especially considering the large area of protection. The process for registration is easy and quick (around six months), making registration in the EUIPO very is lucrative if you plan to expand within the European Union at any time in the future. Registration with EUIPO does not give you a guarantee that similar marks will be rejected in one European member state, so if there are specific jurisdictions where you need exclusive protection then it is better to register with the local national intellectual property office as well. We recommend to our clients that they register both in the European Union and the country of operation.
- Hong Kong
Another country on the international trademark registration list is also an Asian giant – Hong Kong. Its open economy makes it the heart of international commerce, playing a significant intermediary role for China and the rest of the world. The registration procedure takes between six and twelve months and the prices are very reasonable.
Conclusion
This list serves as a guide that involves certain countries for trademark registration due to their strategic position in international commerce or a wide level of prevention. It is important to consider that if a particular country is of specific interest to your business, it should be considered when planning your international brand protection strategy even if you have to invest additional resources.
So, apply for Trademark registration today itself. Trademarkcart gives exclusive services like trademark search, Trademark Registration in all international countries like the US, Dubai, and many other countries. Apply today trademark your work that no one dares to copy them. You can mail us at [email protected] and call us at +1-3024672224.
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