Frequently Asked Questions

2. What are the benefits of registering trademarks in multiple countries?

• Legally own the trademark in that country and use the ® symbol;
• Have the right to file complaints or lawsuits in case of infringement;
• Avoid being registered by competitors, preventing brand usage restrictions in target countries;
• Customs recordation to prevent brand infringement. (Also avoid having your trademark registered by others, leading to customs seizure of goods)

3. What are the difficulties in registering trademarks in multiple countries?

• Based on actual business needs, plan global trademark protection strategies, including countries/classes/registration methods/holders, etc;
• Global involves 100+ countries, requiring different registration channels to submit applications, with professionalism and price advantages;
• To avoid incomplete global brand protection, especially in major countries, check pass rate before registration;
• During registration, there may be risks of rejection, opposition, etc., with different policies and handling methods in each country;
• After obtaining the certificate, multiple countries are involved, requiring file establishment, monitoring trademark status, and timely renewal.

4. When can I use the ® symbol on my trademark?

You can use the ® symbol after obtaining the trademark certificate. ® is the initial letter of the English word "register," indicating that the trademark has been examined by the trademark office and obtained a trademark certificate.

You can use the TM symbol before obtaining the trademark certificate. TM is the abbreviation of the English word "trademark," indicating that the trademark has been filed with the national trademark office and the office has issued a Notice of Acceptance, which can prevent others from filing duplicate applications and indicates the priority right of use for the existing trademark holder.

5. Is trademark registration guaranteed to succeed? Can I get a refund if it fails?

Registration success cannot be guaranteed. Government fees and attorney fees are actually incurred and will not be refunded. Because whether a trademark can be registered depends on whether the trademark examiner approves it, as most countries follow the procedure of examination first and then publication, and no one opposes it during the publication period.

The trademark search report we issue is based on public database queries (with certain data blind spots), evaluating the pass rate from the examiner's perspective, and ultimately subject to actual examination results. For trademarks that must be 100% registrable, we can recommend available registered trademarks for direct purchase and transfer.

6. What is trademark classification? Is each class considered a separate trademark?

Most countries worldwide use the Nice Classification "NICE Agreement Concerning the International Classification of Goods and Services for the Purposes of the Registration of Marks," which divides goods and services into 45 major classes, with goods in classes 1-34 and services in classes 35-45. Trademark registration is charged per major class, with each major class considered a separate trademark, requiring 10-20 selected goods from the class. The classification table varies by country.

7. What is the trademark registration process? How long does examination take?

Confirm trademark name → Plan countries/classes/registration methods → Check pass rate → Prepare registration materials → Submit application → Examination/Publication → (If any) Rejection review/Opposition handling → Obtain registration certificate

Examination time varies by country, mostly ranging from a few months to one or two years.

8. How long is a trademark valid? Can it be renewed when it expires?

The validity period of trademarks varies by country, with most being 10 years. Some countries require declarations (proving continued use), such as the United States in the 5th year. Failure to declare in time/renew before expiration will result in trademark expiration and loss of ownership.

9. For multi-country trademark registration, why is it necessary to establish file management?

With multiple countries involved, file management is essential: first, to track progress during registration; second, to understand expiration dates after obtaining certificates, as each country has different timelines, avoiding missed renewal deadlines.

Normal registration has a long examination cycle, ranging from a few months to two or three years. Especially during the application process, rejection/opposition may occur at any time, so file establishment is also conducive to handling difficult issues.

10. What global trademark consulting services can Overseas Easy provide?

• A. Global trademark registration planning — planning countries/classes, registration methods, and registration fees
• B. Difficult issue handling — rejection review, opposition response, trademark coexistence, trademark hijacking negotiation and repurchase
• C. Pass rate search report — objectively evaluating the probability of successful trademark registration from the examiner's perspective
• D. Trademark file management — archiving trademarks during registration and after certificate issuance to avoid missed renewals
• E. Trademark status monitoring — monitoring whether trademarks are subject to cancellation or publication of similar trademarks

Consultation steps: Understand client needs > Research and analysis > Provide verbal advice or written report