How to search International Trademark Registration?

In today’s era, protecting the rights of your brand on a global scale is significant for businesses. It is for the brand recognition and expands the businesses internationally. In the present article, we are going to explore “How to search international trademark registration” by guiding crucial procedures to make sure the selected trademark is available for registration in the international market. Furthermore, there is a key benefit of the trademark search worldwide.

Table of Content 

What do you mean by Trademark Registration?

Trademarks must be distinctive, whether is a brand name, logo, slogan, pattern, sign or symbol, which is used to distinguish with goods or services of one business from those of others. There are several forms of trademarks such as words, designs, numerals, names, sounds, or colours or combinations of colours. 

Trademark registration is a legal procedure that provides an exclusive right to the proprietor/ owner of the Trademark. For the use of that trademark association to the particular goods or services. Here is the general significance of trademark registration:

• Unique and Distinctive;  
• Application process;
• Issue an examination report;
• Publication of Trademark;
• Trademark Registration;
• Grant Protection; and 
• Renewal

How to search for international trademark registration?

An international trademark search for registration includes identifying the worldwide database of trademarks to make sure the proposed trademark doesn’t conflict with the prior one. The primary way to search on the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) trademark search worldwide, which is a worldwide brand database and also permits you to search for by the Madrid systems trademark search. Here’s the most common way to foreign trademark search registration: –

• Visit the WIPO Website: Go to the global brand database website i.e., WIPO, which is the official website for international trademark registrations. 
• Select search options: From the WIPO homepage, you will find several search options. One can search by selecting basic search, in which one can enter a keyword or trademark name to search. Another one is Advanced search, it is for providing more filter options such as particular trademark classes, proprietors, and more. 
• Enter search criteria: One can enter the appropriate search criteria depending on the kind of search one wants to perform. It includes the trademark name, classes of goods and services, proprietor’s name, etc.
• Proceed with the search: Click the “Search” button option to begin the search. The database will provide a list of trademarks that matches your search criteria.
• Review the Outcomes: Evaluate the search outcomes to see in case any prior international trademarks are similar to or identical to your proposed trademark. Pay attention to the trademark name, owner, and details to ensure there are no conflicts.
• Check the Status and Information: Click on the individual trademark entries in the search outcomes to access more details about each trademark. You can find details about the owner, registration date, classes, and more.
• Analyse Conflicts: If you find trademarks that are similar to/ identical to yours and in the same class of goods or services. Then it is considered as whether your trademark may conflict with these prior registrations of trademark. It is advisable to consult with a trademark attorney for a more thorough analysis if needed.

Benefits of the International Trademark Search

There are several benefits to doing an international trademark search before applying for its registration:

• Improve trademark strength: A thorough trademark search will help you select a unique, different, and strong trademark, which is less likely to be opposed at the time of registration procedure. 
• Brand reputation and recognition: It makes sure that your brand is not in conflict or association with negative connotations, which will harm the reputation.
• Avoid conflicts: It is the main benefit of a thorough search of international trademarks, which helps you to recognize existing trademarks that are identical to yours. This will avoid the conflict between the two trademarks. 
• Legal Compliance: It is a legal requirement in various areas that before filing a trademark application, there must be a trademark search. It determines the reasonable procedure to make your proposed trademark not infringing an existing one. 
• International expansion: If you are planning to expand your business internationally, a trademark search can help you recognize the reasonable conflicts in various locations. 

End Notes

In conclusion, we can say that the thorough search for international trademark registration is a basic procedure for securing your brand’s recognition and reputation in a worldwide manner. By carefully searching and determining the complexities of the trademark, one can recognize the potential conflicts, make a firm decision, and avoid legal disputes related to the brand’s name. Always remember that protecting a trademark is a potential investment for your business’s success. Along with the right strategies, one can confidently extend their market presence worldwide.