Trademark
Trademarks are the symbol of origin. They are used to distinguish the goods or services of one trader from another and can take many forms; for example logos, words, shapes, slogans, colors, and sounds. Trademarks are registered for specific goods or services within individual subjects, which are known as classes. Others can also register identical marks as long as it is in a different class. Trademarks must be registered in order to be granted protection in Europe. To be specific, when your trademark is registered, you will be able to take legal action against anyone who illegally utilizes your brand without your authorization, including counterfeiters, place the ® symbol next to your brand in order to prove that it is yours and warn others against utilizing it, and sell and license your brand.
For international trademark protection, you can apply to register your trademark in countries that are parties of the agreement: ‘The Madrid Protocol’. The Madrid Protocol is under control of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), based in Geneva, Switzerland. Their website shows a list of members that an international application can cover. An International application must depend on a current trademark registration, in one of the member countries. If you apply through the UK office, your international registration must be identical to your UK trademark registration. If you apply for a EUTM at EUIPO, you are allowed to utilize that as a basis for an international mark. Nevertheless, you must then have the application for that mark through EUIPO.
