How to register a trademark in the Czech Republic

Doing business in the Czech Republic is profitable. In this article, we will tell you how to register a business in this country in a few steps, what you need to remember when establishing a trademark in the Czech territory and how much time to spend on it.

Step No. 1 We select classes of goods and services according to the classifier

To do this, we look for and compare classes of services and goods similar to yours. We critically evaluate the extent to which your goods or services are identical with the already registered logos, trademark images, names, slogans according to the register of declared and issued trademarks in the Czech patent offices. We draw up a report on the search done, include recommendations for registering your designation as a trademark, and draw conclusions. This voluminous procedure is priced at 50 euros if the search takes place in one class, and + 25 euros for subsequent classes for comparison.

Step No. 2 Gathering Documentation

We collect the most necessary documentation, namely:

• image of the sign/word of your trademark in pdf, jpg format;
• a description of what business or type of market you plan to use the future brand, for example, tourism, science, trade;
• your details as a legal entity.

Step No. 3 Apply for registration

To do this, we go to the patent office of the Czech Republic. For the submission of documentation, we make an official payment to the department. Its amount is: for an application for registration up to three classes - 115 euros, and + 20 euros for the next class. It is also possible to obtain a certificate of priority of the filing date of the application for registration. This additional option costs 40 EUR, according to Czech law.

Step No. 4 We pass the examination of the application

Before registering a trademark, the Czech Office examines it in detail in two stages. The first is a formal consideration. The second is a qualitative analysis that determines whether the proposed future TM violates the rights of any already existing brand.

For example, you want to register a building material as a trade mark "Building hub" and apply for registration. During the examination, your competitor - a construction company with a similar material and name, considers that you are infringing, and files a petition with the patent office to initiate an opposition process, that is, to prove that your building material cannot be registered as a trademark. In serious cases, such confrontation ends in litigation based on the Law on the Protection of Trademarks.

If the examination goes smoothly, no contradictions and oppositions are revealed, the Czech Patent Office registers the trademark and issues a registration certificate.

How long does registration take and how long does a trademark last?

As a rule, the Czech Patent Office considers the application for about 6 months from the date of submission of the documentation. After a trademark is registered and a certificate is issued, it can exist for 10 years. After this period, if desired, TM can be renewed every 10 years. However, if you have registered a mark but have not used it in Czech business, the state has the right to cancel it after 5 years of inactivity.

Is it possible to expand the territory of TM to other countries?

If your business is gaining momentum, you can extend the protection to the territory of the states of the Madrid Agreement, which includes 98 countries. To do this, you need an international application for filing a trademark registration. The cost of services of a patent attorney starts from 400 euros and often varies depending on how many classes and services you need to accompany for registration with the Czech Patent Office. Register with us!