Registering trademarks can be done on your own, but the process is often not straightforward. It requires a certain amount of legal understanding and strategic planning. Here is a list of common mistakes that can lead to additional costs or even loss of funds for an unregistered or incorrectly filed trademark.

Overly generic names

When registering a trademark, a fundamental mistake is to choose a phrase that is too general or descriptive. For example, the name “Cold Beer” in the beer sector may be considered too generic to be successfully registered as a trade mark.

Failure to carry out a trade mark examination procedure

Before registering a trade mark, it is important to carry out a thorough check to ensure that there are no existing registered or similar trade marks. This will help to avoid potential conflicts with other trade mark owners. It is important to note that the official patent authorities do not carry out such a check.

Insufficiently broad geographical protection

Sometimes trademark owners register their trademark in only one country without considering other markets and future prospects. Such limitations can create obstacles when planning business expansion outside the country.

Misclassification

Each trade mark is registered in the relevant classes of goods and services according to the Nice Classification. If you choose the wrong classes or don’t fully list the activities or products, your trademark will not be sufficiently protected.

Inattention to detail

Technical and administrative errors can be made when registering a trade mark. For example, information may be omitted, a form may be filled in incorrectly or a document may not be submitted.

Although self-registration may seem like a cost-saving measure, mistakes can lead to significant costs – both financial and time. METIDA trademark specialists will help you avoid these common mistakes and ensure a successful trademark registration.