All you have to do is register a trademark online.
A brand promotes trust among customers, who recognize your company thanks to this element.
Here are a few tips on the formalities involved in registering a trademark and its benefits for the entrepreneur.
Protect your business from the competition
How do you define a brand?
It's a sign that differentiates one product or service from another.
This sign protects you from the competition. In fact, no one can use it without first requesting authorization from the trademark owner.
In the event of unauthorized use, legal action may be taken. Trademarks can be made up of various elements.
Generally speaking, this means a sign that can be represented graphically, such as a name, a sound sign or a figurative sign.
Protect your brand right from the start
Trademark registration is highly recommended for all companies, even the smallest.
You'll be even better protected if you make this deposit as soon as you start your business.
This requires action to be taken and represents a cost, but failure to do so can result in considerable loss if used by a competitor.
It is therefore an essential stage in the life of the company.
The different INPI classes
It is not possible to protect a trademark against all types of use. You need to choose certain types of classes, corresponding to goods and services, for which your trademark will be protected against competition.
The more classes you choose, the better. The more classes you want to protect your trademark in, the higher the cost of registration.
So, to protect the product/service in 1, 2 or 3 classes, it will cost you €210 (€250 for a paper deposit).
Each additional class costs €42.
What are the formalities involved?
You need to check the availability of the trademark, i.e. make sure that the trademark you wish to register is not already protected elsewhere.
This search can be carried out on the INPI website. Filing is done directly online on the same site. Registering a trademark with INPI only protects you in France.
For European or worldwide protection, contact the EUIPO (European Union Intellectual Property Office) and WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization) respectively.
Registering your trademark with the INPI can be done easily online with LegalVision.
Professional attorneys will support you throughout the procedure, and help you choose the classes to be protected by INPI.
Written by our expert Editorial staff
December 18, 2017
