HOW TO OBTAIN FOREIGN TRADEMARK REGISTRATION?
Register the Trademark in the US First
Before exploring international trademark protection, first, you should file or register your trademark in the US. It is beneficial because a US registered trademark gets easily approved across the world.
The trademark application can be made directly on the USPTO website. Additionally, registering in the US first will provide you with more strong grounds to register in other countries.
Do Your Due Diligence
To protect your brand in other countries, it is necessary to know how the system in that particular country works.
Apply Under the Madrid System
The Madrid System is a one-stop solution for registering and managing trademarks worldwide. Additionally, under the Madrid Agreement, trademark applicants can offer one application to protect their work within a combination of countries. Likewise, the Madrid Union is made up of countries that accept these international trademarks.
You can apply for international trademark support or assurance by registering an MM2 Form, which is free on the WIPO website. Next, you can submit a hard copy to the US office.
113 countries currently are part of the Madrid Agreement, including France, Australia, Italy, China, and the European Union.
You can choose specific countries, or you can decide to protect your trademark in all 113 nations. Similarly, there is a processing fee for filing a trademark with the WIPO. But it is less expensive than registering individually in each country.
Select an Attorney
There are various countries that are not protected under the Madrid Agreement, such as Saudi Arabia, Canada, and South Africa. If you want to register a trademark in a place not covered under the Madrid Agreement, consider seeking guidance from an attorney in the country you are looking to register.
Consider Foreign Translations
It is advisable to thoroughly examine the foreign translations of words you might be seeking to trademark in other languages. Make sure the foreign translation of whatever term or slogan you are trying to use is not offensive or absurd in that particular country.
Takeaways and Pitfalls to Avoid
Copyright © 2013-2021 - All Right Reserved