Key Considerations for U.S. Business Owners When Registering a Trademark Internationally

Table of Content

1. Conduct Your Research
2. Use the Madrid System
3. Choose a Unique Trademark Name
4. Pay Attention to the Language and Cultural Barriers
5. Consider Trademark Infringement and Other Costs and Challenges
Final Thoughts


Your trademark as a business owner is protected within the United States if it is registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), but it is not protected outside of the United States.

You must establish your trademark with foreign nations where you seek protection if you don't want any other entity to use your brand name.  

Consider filing for trademark registration in any country where you sell your services or products under your brand name. It's crucial to comprehend the specifics of trademark registration in other nations when planning to register a trademark internationally.

This article outlines five essential considerations for business owners registering trademarks outside of the U.S.

1. Conduct Your Research

Understanding how the system functions in each country relative to the U.S. is critical if you want to safeguard your trademark there. Spend some time getting acquainted with the trademark laws and guidelines of nations where you’re requesting registration.

If you want to safeguard your trademark outside the United States, you have two options: either file it individually for every country where you’re looking to have it protected or apply to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) for international trademark protection within the Madrid Convention.

The laws defining ownership in a trademark are nation-specific, just like other laws. For instance, some nations, including New Zealand, Australia, and the UAE, are first-to-use nations, implying that trademark registration is unnecessary to prove ownership.

Hence, irrespective of registration, if you happen to be the first to use a trademark in commerce, you inherently have some ownership rights in it. However, use is not a criterion in trademark ownership in many other countries, such as China and Latin America.

Because of the importance of first-to-file countries, licensing in those nations may take precedence over first-to-use nations that are equally important to your company.

2. Use the Madrid System

The Madrid System offers a one-stop shop for handling and registering trademarks globally. According to the Madrid Agreement, applicants for trademarks can submit only one application to secure rights across multiple countries. These nations that acknowledge international trademarks make up the Madrid Union.

By submitting an MM2 form, which is readily accessible on the WIPO website, you can request international trademark protection. After that, you can deliver a physical copy to the American office. With just one application, you can get trademark protection in over 113 nations worldwide.

China, France, Italy, Japan, and the European Union are among them. You can decide to secure your trademark in all 113 nations or just a few. Although trademark registration with the WIPO carries a processing charge, doing so is less expensive than submitting separate applications in each nation.

You are only permitted to use the system if you have a documented business or personal relationship with one of the countries covered, meaning you must reside in, be a resident of, or carry out your business there.

3. Choose a Unique Trademark Name

Before choosing a name for your company, you need to do your research. If you choose a name that another brand already takes, you will get into a lot of trouble.

Rebranding your company and updating your name both cost money. Furthermore, most small companies lack the financial resources to defend themselves against a trademark infringement claim.

Hence, conduct a trademark search before deciding on your company's name to determine whether it might violate the rights of another party to their trademark to prevent expensive rebranding or legal action.

To avoid having your application rejected, we advise looking not just for the identical name but also for any similar modifications and names.
 

4. Pay Attention to the Language and Cultural Barriers

The trademark application process can be complex and different in each country. If you don’t understand the language in which the application must be filed, you may not be able to provide all the necessary information or meet the requirements, which could result in a rejected application.

During the registration process, there may be questions or concerns raised by the trademark office that need to be addressed. If you can effectively communicate in the language of the country, it could ensure the registration process is smooth.

Different countries and cultures may have different views on what is considered offensive or inappropriate. If the trademark being registered includes elements considered offensive or inappropriate in the country's culture where registration is being sought, the application may be rejected. Therefore, you must understand the culture of the country where you want to register the trademark and ensure that there is no offensive element that could lead to the denial of the application.

5. Consider Trademark Infringement and Other Costs and Challenges

Depending on the situation, a trademark owner who believes their brand name is being used by another entity may pursue a civil action (i.e., case) for trademark infringement.

The most effective strategy to resolve the infringement issue and ensure that you are ready to face any obstacles that may arise is to consult a skilled trademark attorney. They can advise on trademark laws and help you navigate the complexities associated with trademark registration in foreign countries.

Implementing your trademark rights in another country comes with a lot of expenditures and difficulties. You might have to maintain constant touch and effective discussions with the government of the nation where your business is taking place even after all necessary regulations and laws have been fulfilled.

The local government entities may need to be contacted first if there are manufacturing, distribution, or shipment issues. Other issues could include fluctuating exchange rates of currencies, limited or restricted access to supplies and resources, corporate protection via policies or insurance, and even changes in immigration and labor legislation.

Final Thoughts

A business trademark is a form of intellectual property protection that can be used to safeguard a company's brand. By registering a trademark, a business can prevent others from using a similar or identical mark for similar goods or services, which can help to maintain the distinctiveness of the brand and prevent consumer confusion. This protection can extend to the company's logo or design, as well as its name or other identifying marks.

Following the tips above, you can easily register your trademark outside the U.S. and enjoy many benefits. If you need help registering your trademark, get in touch with Nominus.