Trademark
Trademark is a legal instrument through which an entrepreneur or individual protects their brand. It is a key element of your brand identity (the brand, slogan or designation under which you operate) and an important intangible asset if you decide to sell your business or expand it into foreign markets.
By registering a trademark, the owner obtains an effective legal mechanism for protecting the designation against copying, free-riding or other unauthorized use by others. It is an officially registered designation that distinguishes your goods or services from those of competitors and, under certain conditions, prevents your competitors from using an identical or confusingly similar designation for the same or similar goods and services for which you have registered your trademark.
What Elements Can a Trademark Protect
Trademark does not have to be registered only for your company name or logo. Most commonly, this is a word trademark (name or slogan), a figurative trademark (usually a logo), or a combination of both (some registrars allow the registration of a so-called combined trademark). In some cases, it is also possible to protect less traditional elements, such as colors, position, sound or other distinctive signs typical of the brand (e.g., a 3D three-dimensional designation, hologram or multimedia content).
Why Is Trademark Registration Important
Trademark registration ensures, provided that the rules for trademarks and their use are observed, effective legal protection and certainty for conducting business under your brand. Without registration, you do not have the exclusive right to use the name or logo to the extent guaranteed by a trademark, and you have only very limited options for defending yourself against copying, free-riding or other forms of unfair competition committed by your competitors against your brand and business.
A registered trademark enables you, with proper legal assistance, to take effective action against competitors who would unlawfully use an identical or confusingly similar designation to yours (for the same or similar goods and services as yours), including the use of available legal measures and remedies, or compensation for damage (and, where applicable, non-pecuniary harm).
A trademark, as an important company asset, increases the value of the company and the credibility of the brand in the eyes of customers and business partners, as well as potential investors or buyers (acquirers) of your company.
Who Is a Trademark Intended For
Trademark is suitable for sole traders, companies, e-commerce store owners, startups, scale-ups and large brands alike. It is a fundamental pillar of brand protection, effective and targeted marketing, and long-term business strategy. If you are building a brand, investing in marketing or planning expansion into new markets, trademark registration should be one of the first steps you take to protect what is yours.
Online consultation
- how to apply for a national trademark (Slovak)
- how to apply for registration of a European Union trademark (EU TM) before the EUIPO
- how to apply for registration of an international trademark (WIPO)
- how to register a trademark in only certain countries
- how to expand a trademark to include territories, goods and/or services
- how to obtain a refund of part of the fee paid, Grant SME Fund
- what are the fees for registering a trademark in Slovakia, with the EUIPO, with WIPO, and for expansion
- what is the procedure before and after filing a trademark application
- what is the purpose of a trademark
- why it is important to search for a sign in relation to trademarks
- what if someone has filed an opposition against the registration of your trademark
- what if someone has registered a trademark for a sign that belongs to you
- what are the classes for trademarks
- how long is my trademark valid and how can I extend its validity
Legal services
- M&A advisory (mergers and acquisitions)
- Corporate law
- Family businesses and private clients
- Real Estate and Construction
- Commercial retail leases
- Bank loans and financing
- IT law and TMT law
- Intellectual property law
- Trademark.boutique (trademarks)
- Designs, patents, industrial rights
- Contracts and legal documentation
- Dispute resolution