Do I need to register a trademark?

Trademarks show ownership. We've discussed in other articles why having a unique mark is important in today's global economy. A registered trademark gives you exclusive rights according to the laws of your country or the authority where you market your products and services. Your trademark can be registered if it has a unique and distinctive look that sets it apart from other trademarks. The graphic you use to mark your products and services is also your property. Register this trademark with the relevant authority to formally declare your exclusive ownership rights.

By registering a trademark, you secure two main rights:

• the right to use the mark in business transactions, and
• the right to register and protect that mark.

Depending on your country's commerce and property laws, trademark rights are established by actively using the trademark in business. It's important to register your trademark and use it in commerce within a certain timeframe after submitting your application. Although intellectual property laws vary between countries and jurisdictions, we advise clients to register their mark to prepare for disputes over ownership, especially in international markets.

Did you know that domestic trademark protection can help property owners obtain new registration and protection in other countries? An international trademark is the best way to reduce the risk of brand piracy abroad and the import of counterfeit goods into your home country. Registered trademarks give owners the power to take legal action against counterfeiters or infringers who engage in brand piracy in both domestic and international markets.