Trademark filing, step by step

Order, filing, registration: three different things

• Order: you complete the form and pay for the service. Your file is opened with us; nothing has been sent to the office yet.
• Filing: we submit the application to the office (INPI, EUIPO, UKIPO or IPI). The office assigns a number and filing date; you receive a filing receipt.
• Registration: after examination and, depending on the office, publication and an opposition period, the office registers the mark and issues a certificate. Only registration grants the right.

1. Prepare the file

Gather the owner's exact identity (person or company, address, registration number), the sign to protect (word, logo as JPEG), the territories and the list of goods and services.

2. Check availability

Before filing, earlier identical or similar marks are searched to reduce the risk of opposition. See the guide “Checking trademark availability”.

3. Choose owner, sign, territories and goods/services

These choices cannot be broadened after filing: you cannot add classes or change the sign. The owner should be the person or company that will use or control the mark.

4. Filing with the office

The filing date is the starting point of your mark's protection and of the priority right (6 months to extend to other countries).

5. Examination, publication, opposition — the order depends on the office

• INPI (France): publication in the BOPI, 2-month opposition period, examination, registration.
• EUIPO (European Union): examination, publication, 3-month opposition period, registration.
• UKIPO (United Kingdom): examination, publication in the Trade Marks Journal, 2-month opposition (extendable to 3), registration.
• IPI (Switzerland): examination, registration, then publication; opposition takes place after registration, within 3 months of publication.

6. Registration and documents received

• Filing receipt: proof of filing (number and date). It is not a certificate.
• Publication: official announcement of the application or registration.
• Office letters: objections, requests to correct, opposition notices — often with a response deadline.
• Registration certificate: proof that the mark is registered, valid for 10 renewable years.