Euro-Counsels

Euro-Counsels manages trademark portfolios worldwide.

Protection of Trademarks

The protection of industrial property values is a key need of company management. An executive manager can decide to file an application for the registration of a national or international trademark according to the procedures of the Madrid Treaties.

Where, when, and what trademark to register implies having a comprehensive knowledge of legal questions relating to industrial property, as well as procedural matters.

In a fast-paced environment and global economy, such simple questions as "where, when, and what" quickly become extremely complex. Using the services of a specialist allows an understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of a specific registration system, including how to register a trademark designed to be exploited worldwide.

Our team and our co-operating attorneys network can register trademarks all over the world.

Our services

Covering all stages of the process, our services start with trademark creation, availability research, and continue up to the final registration of the trademark:

1. Global trademark searches, clearance, filing, prosecution, instruction of foreign agents, negotiations with third parties, representation of the company with trademark authorities where appropriate.
2. Discussions during opposition procedures.
3. Management of trademark portfolios.
4. Licensing, acquisitions, assignments.
5. Research of the mark or logo to be filed. At this stage, a good knowledge of the jurisprudence, in particular rendered by the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (OAMI) is necessary in order to file a trademark capable of protection according to the european regulatory body.
6. Surveillance, maintenance, renewal.

Strategy

Performing searches prior to filing a new trademark is a very important step of the procedure. If there is a risk of confusion, our team of trilingual lawyers can determine the level of risk, and propose solutions.

International filing can be done according to two methods:

• directly with the national offices,
• via the Protocol or Arrangement of Madrid (the Madrid Treaties relating to trademarks registration).

For countries in the European Union, it is preferable to register before the OAMI. The OAMI is responsible for registering community trademarks and community designs if the mark is available. Registration of the mark by a third party in other countries of the EU could, in the future, prevent or impair the exploitation of the trademark if the registration does not cover the whole community.

The consequence of this is that the brand will not be able to be exploited abroad. When the future development of the business is concerned with several european countries, it is less costly and more advantageous to register with the OAMI from the beginning.

Costs

Our services include:

• Identification of products and services of the filing application
• Identification of international classes
• Drafting of the application
• Filing of the application

The applicable taxes before the OAMI are 750 euros for an online filing for three classes of products and services. The taxes in France are 225 euros for three classes for a national protection. A free quotation for proposed work can be sent upon request.