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“Switzerland has a strong economy and is one of the most competitive in the World. It is also a popular destination for businesses, both domestic and international and it is situated also in the middle of the EU where goods and products go though. Switzerland is well-known for efficiency and precision of goods and services too. If you are planning to do business in Switzerland, it is important to consider registering a trademark.
A trademark is a sign that distinguishes the goods/products or services of one undertaking from those of other undertakings. It can be a word, phrase, logo, symbol, or a combination of these elements. Benefits of registering a trademark in Switzerland:
Exclusive right to use the trademark in connection with the goods or services that you have registered it for. This means that no one else can use the same trademark without your permission.
Registering a trademark helps you to protect your brand and reputation. It can also help to prevent counterfeiting and other forms of infringements.
Registering a trademark can make it easier to enforce your intellectual property rights in the event of a dispute.
Competitive Fees for Swiss Trademark Registrations:
To make it easier for you to do business in Switzerland, you can register your trademark at advantageous and highly competitive rates using our services.
Per example, total filing fee for filing a Swiss trademark application is CHF 700, which includes official fees (CHF 350) up to three classes and agency fees CHF 350).
For each additional class of goods or services from the fourth onwards, an additional CHF 100 as taxes must be added to this amount while our agency fee remain the same.
Goods and services must be classified according to the XIIth Edition of the Nice Classification and must be in one of the three Swiss National Languages (German, French, or Italian).
Procedure for filing a trademark application in Switzerland:
The procedure for filing and registering a trademark in Switzerland is relatively straightforward but must be done by a local based IP Swiss Agent like us. We may file an application online and have these official prices. By mail and using paper forms do not grant you this special discount of the electronic filing. The application must include the following information:
The trademark that you want to register; if a logo this must be sent in jpeg format
The goods or services that you want to use the trademark for
Your name and address as the owner(s)
Your name and address as the payer for the invoice
You must appoint a local Swiss Representative in Switzerland like us (if you do not have a place of
business in Switzerland) and the owner(s) must sign our Power of Attorney
No paper copies and no legalizations are required
The Swiss Trademark Office (IGE) will examine your application and, if there are no grounds for refusal, it will be published and opened for the three months opposition period.
The owner(s) of an earlier trademark may oppose a new registration within these three months of the publication of the application. The opposition must be substantiated and sent in writing to the IGE and official fees to be paid are, at the moment, CHF 800. If the opposition is well founded, the registration may be partially or totally revoked; otherwise, the opposition will be rejected.
If no opposition by third parties will be filed then it may be considered as registered and you may insert the R in the circle.
The Swiss Trademark Office does not send any paper Certificate stating the registration of it therefore the publication electronic certificate will be considered as the definite Certificate. In any case, from the online Swissreg Register you may download at anytime and from anywhere, for free, the Swissreg Extract (click here and you may search for any mark from the Swissreg official website: https://www.swissreg.ch)and this is to be considered as valid.
The registration will be valid for 10 years and can be renewed for further periods of 10 years for indefinite periods.
There are a few things to keep in mind when registering a trademark in Switzerland:
Before filing a trademark application, it is important to search at the Swiss Trademark Office’s (IGE) trademark database to check for existing verbal registrations. This will help you to avoid registering a trademark that is already in use by another party.
The IGE classifies goods and services into 45 classes. When searching the database, you will need to select the appropriate class for your goods or services. The correct class will determine the scope of protection that your trademark will cover.
Use of the trademark, according to Article 12(1) of the Swiss Federal Law on the Protection of Trademarks (SPLT):
“The proprietor who, for an uninterrupted period of five years from the unused expiry of the opposition period or from the end of the opposition procedure, has not used the trademark in relation to the goods or services for which it is claimed may not assert the right to the trademark, unless serious reasons justify the non-use”.
Validity and Duration of a Trade mark in Switzerland
As already written above, a trademark registered in Switzerland is valid for 10 years from the filing date and can be renewed indefinitely for further periods of 10 years.
If you are considering registering a trademark in Switzerland, it is important to seek professional advice from an Intellectual Property Swiss IP Agent like us. We can help you to ensure that your application is filed correctly and that your trademark registration is properly protected.
Do you want to register your trademark in Switzerland? Contact us here! and we will be proud to assist you. Do not hesitate to contact us and we are at your disposal for any clarification on how to register a trademark in Switzerland. Our Estimate of Costs are for free.
Be assured that your IP interests are in good hands.
Disclaimer: The present article intends to provide general guidance only on the subject, and you can also
revert to us in your specific case if you think so.
Franco Oriti Oriti Patents
Viale Carlo Cattaneo, 23, 6900 Lugano, SWITZERLAND
Identification Number: CHE-370.095.823
email: [email protected], tel.:+41 (0)91 921 39 76
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