ige.ch Online Trademark Registration Switzerland : Federal Institute of Intellectual Property

Organization : Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property
Type of Facility : Online Trademark Registration
Country: Switzerland

Website : https://www.ige.ch/en/
e-Trademark: https://e-trademark.ige.ch/etrademark/index.jsf

Online Trademark Registration :

Trademarks:
Legally, a trademark is a protected sign which is used to distinguish the products or services of one business from another.

Related / Similar Status:

Apply Order Tax Certificate Switzerland

Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property Trademark Search Request Switzerland

Basically, any graphic representations can be used as trademarks under the law: For example, words (e.g., Victorinox), combinations of letters (e.g., ABB), numericals (e.g., 501), graphic images (e.g., the SBB logo), three-dimensional forms (e.g., the Mercedes star), slogans (e.g., “Cats would buy Whiskas”), any combination of these elements, and a series of tones (acoustic trademarks, e.g., the Ricola jingle). Further more.

Why protect a trademark?:
Registering a trademark gives you the exclusive right to use a certain sign for specific goods and services or to grant someone else the right to use it (e.g., licensing). As a trademark owner you can prevent others from using an identical or similar sign for the same or similar goods and services.

A few facts:
** The trademark registration fees in Switzerland are CHF 550, for three classes of goods and services for a period of 10 years.
** The 10-year term of protection can be renewed indefinitely.
** If there are no apparent problems, a trademark is examined within six working days and then afterwards registered following payment of the fees. Please refer to our Newsletter 2008/12 (German or French ; pdf, 43 KB) concerning the requirements for an early examination and registration of these applications. In all other cases, we register a trademark application generally within a maximum of three months after payment of the fees or send an objection within the same time limit.

Good to know:
Make sure your sign is distinctive.
** Aggrandizing or descriptive words (i.e., SUPER for automobiles or WATERPROOF for rain coats) cannot be registered as trademarks; they must remain available to the public. Conditions for registration

Search before you register a trademark:
** If you register a trademark that is similar or identical to one that is already registered, your mark may infringe on the prior one. The owner of the prior trademark can possibly even demand the cancellation of your mark and financial compensation. Because we do not determine whether your mark has already been registered in a similar or identical form at the time of application, it is important for you to do it (further information on third party rights and other laws).You can have earlier trademark registrations searched for by a specialist.
** Note that trademarks can also infringe on business and domain names.

Select your goods and service classes carefully:
** A trademark is always protected only for certain classes of goods and services. When you register, you must indicate the goods and services for which you wish to register and use your trademark. If you don’t use your trademark for the products (or services) you claimed within five years of registration, you can lose your trademark protection. (Protection for certain goods and services).

Consult a trademark attorney:
** We would be glad to answer your questions about the registration procedure. If you are unsure about choosing a trademark or your trademark strategy, or you would like advice in an infringement case, consult a trademark attorney.

Documents and further information:
** Envisioned. Created. Protected., an abbreviated guide to intellectual property. (order for free)
** Our brochure, Registering a Trademark (in German), contains everything you need to know about registering a trademark in Switzerland (order for free).
** Invent, Produce, Market: Read about the roles patents, trademarks, designs, and copyrights can play in the innovation process in our Guide for Innovative and Creative Minds.
** www.promarca.ch: The Swiss trademark product association has an informative trademark protection brochure (pdf, 2,52 MB) (in German or French) which can be downloaded.
** Frequently asked questions
** Info sheet on conflicting marks (in French (pdf 86 KB), German (pdf 85 KB) or Italian (pdf 82 KB))
** www.swissreg.ch: The official publication of the Institute includes information about nationally registered trademarks.

Still have questions? We’d be happy to help:
Telephone +41 31 377 77 77
Fax +41 31 377 77 78
E-Mail info@ipi.ch