5 Steps Of The Global Trademark Registration Process

Businesses looking to extend the reach of their brands have to undergo the global trademark registration process. Business owners such as yourself need to know the process in order to grow their companies while also adhering to the laws of foreign countries. You have likely already discovered how to get a trademark number if you are looking to expand internationally. However, the process of registering your trademark can be difficult to navigate without some advice. Read on as we breakdown the steps of the global trademark registration process.

Hire An Intellectual Property Attorney

The first step in the process of globally registering your trademark is to hire an intellectual property attorney. You do not need an attorney to file the application for a trademark. However, an IP lawyer helps you steer through the laws of international trademark registration. Additionally, some countries require that you obtain trademarks for each product or service you offer. If you are looking to expand internationally, a lawyer helps you avoid legal oversight. Hiring an IP attorney takes a lot of the guess work out of the registration process. They know the ins and outs of conducting a trademark lookup and will ensure that you abide by the law. Before you get too far into the global trademark registration process, hire an IP attorney to ensure you comply with international laws.

Familiarize Yourself With The Madrid System

Even though you have a lawyer to walk you through the registration process, it does not hurt to familiarize yourself with the Madrid System. The Madrid System assists you throughout the duration of your trademark. This includes application and renewal assistance. The system streamlines the registration process by offering a single application that covers over 100 countries. Additionally, the Madrid System allows for easy modification of trademarks in each country you are registered in. As you move along in the early stages of the global trademark registration process, familiarize yourself with the Mardird system to centralize your applications.

Select Designate Countries

Before you go ahead and file your registration application, designate which countries you would like to attain a trademark from. Though the Madrid System allows registration in over 100 countries, you may not want to do business in all of them. You spend more money as you add more countries to your application list. Also, the more goods and services you plan to trademark also drive up the price. Instead of deciding to register in all of the Madrid System countries, choose a select few that you plan to do the most business in. Designate which countries you want to trademark your brand in while you advance through the global trademark registration process.

File An Application With The USPTO

Now that you know the laws and have chosen which countries you want a trademark from, file an application with the USPTO. Your trademark lawyer can assist you in completing this step as well. Before you can get a global trademark, you first have to secure one in your home country. Luckily, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office makes this step relatively simple. As you move to internationally trademarking your brand with the USPTO, you have to identify at least one other country to register in. That country must be a member of the Madrid System. This is why it is important that you familiarize yourself with the system. Once you file your application through the USPTO, there is only one step left in the global trademark registration process.

Undergo The Review Process

Finally, once you submit your application, prepare to go through the process of review conducted by at least three separate organizations. These include the USPTO, the International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization, and the individual countries you applied to. Each of these bodies has their own standards for international trademarks. The USPTO and WIPO both look to ensure you are compliant with the regulations of the Madrid System. Once the WIPO approves your application, they will notify each country you applied to. Those countries will then conduct their own review. Upon completion of these reviews, you will have completed the global trademark registration process.

In order to branch out into the international market, you will have to go through the global trademark registration process. Before you begin filling out applications, hire an IP attorney to guide you through the legal aspect of registration. As you move along, familiarize yourself with the Madrid System and chose which countries you want to register your trademark in. Then, file an application through the USPTO and undergo the review process of each governing body. Follow these guidelines to easily navigate the global trademark registration process.