EU-wide registered trademarks - CTMs
When a European trademark is registered as a community trade mark, or "CTM", it is registered such that the CTM covers every member state in the EU (i.e. covering the European Union). A trader can apply to register his logo in one CTM application for the European Union as a whole. A registered CTM now covers the 27 member states of the European Union, with an aggregate population of 495 million. As trademark agents, we can apply to obtain CTM registration, on your behalf, for the following:
• For traders and businesses that are seeking to protect their logos throughout the European Union,
• For brands, logos and trademarks to be registered in the European Union,
• For brands, logos and trademarks already registered in Ireland,
• For registration of a trademark in the European Union, as a CTM,
• For businesses making international applications for registering trademarks in other countries based on an Irish application.
European registered trademarks - CTM similar rights to national registered trademarks
The European Union trademarks system to register CTM trademarks, has very similar rights to a trademark registered in Ireland. However, the CTM registration only needs to be used in one member state of the European Union to meet the requirements for validity throughout the European Union as a whole, to be a valid CTM. This extends the reach of trademark territorial protection via CTM trademark registration. From a registered trademarks point of view, it is like owning a property covering 500 million people, and 27 countries.
European trademarks advantages, CTMs (European trademarks)
The main advantages of a CTM trademark registration include the following: -
• One CTM trademark registration covers 27 countries,
• A CTM trademark registration covers almost 500 million people,
• Costs are less than applying to register trademarks in every country in the European Union,
• The CTM registered trademark can block applications to register national trademarks, whereas national trademarks automatically do not block registration of CTMs, unless they monitor CTM's and oppose registration successfully.
• Holders of registered CTM trademarks are notified of new CTM applications if there is an application to register a similar trademark for similar goods/services. This does not tend to happen in the case of nationally registered trademarks.
A registered CTM covers 27 countries
The countries currently covered by a registered CTM include:-
Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Netherlands
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
United Kingdom.
The 27 countries have a total population of 495 million. The costs of a registered CTM are much lower than applying to register a trademark in each country separately.
Unitary nature of community trade marks, CTMs (European trademarks)
A CTM trademark (community trade mark) registration has what is known as a unitary character once it is registered. The CTM (community trademark) registration applies throughout the whole territory of the European Union.
However, having a unitary character, if a CTM trademark registration is opposed or invalidated successfully in one member state, then it cannot continue to exist as a European registered trademark, covering all of the European Union.
For a list of the countries that are parties to the Madrid Protocol on trademark registration visit the international trademarks registration page.
If you appply for registration of a trademark in some of the countries separately, they may have particular trademark registration requirements that must be met. For example, the UK requires an address for service, which we can provide, and others may require a declaration of intention to use the trademark. The CTM as a single registration is one of the ways around this, and would cost a lot less than separate trademark applications to register trademarks in each of the member states. For costs of a CTM trademark registration in the European Union, visit the trademark costs page.
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Battle For Trademarks gives supportive trademarks services - for registered trademarks We are proud of our trademarks service record. |