A trademark application & registration is a formal procedure to legally protect the name, logo, symbol or other distinctive sign that distinguishes a business’s products or services from its competitors. Thanks to the trademark registration, the trademark owner has the right to use his trademark for a certain period of time (usually 10 years, renewable) and to prevent the unauthorised use of others. This process enables businesses to gain competitive advantage by strengthening brand awareness and corporate identity.
The trademark application process starts with a preliminary trademark search. This research is carried out to determine whether the trademark to be applied for has been registered before and whether it is legally protectable. After the preliminary research, the necessary documents for the trademark application are prepared and submitted to the authorised institution. After the application is submitted, the trademark registration process begins and the authorised institution examines and evaluates the application in terms of form and substance.
During the trademark registration process, the uniqueness of the application, the possibility of confusion with similar trademarks and legal compliance are investigated. If there are no deficiencies or legal obstacles in the application, the trademark is published in the official bulletin and presented to the right of opposition of third parties. After the opposition process is completed and if there is no obstacle, the trademark registration is approved and the registration certificate is issued to the trademark owner.
Trademark application and trademark registration are of great importance for businesses to protect their brand value and create a long-term asset. A properly managed application process ensures that the legal rights of the trade mark are secured. Therefore, it is of great importance to receive professional support in the application process and to fulfil the legal requirements completely.