So, you’ve entered the market with your unique business idea and need to protect your name and processes from potential copying. The right step is to register a trademark (ochranná známka) or a patent (patent).
According to Act No. 441/2003 Coll. of the Czech Republic, a trademark can be: “any sign, particularly words, including personal names, designs, letters, numerals, the shape of goods or their packaging, or sounds, which is capable of distinguishing the goods or services of one undertaking from those of other undertakings.”
There are five types of trademarks:
- Word mark: A name, potentially in a specific graphical font.
- Figurative mark: Logos are a typical example.
- Three-dimensional mark: For example, packaging.
- Combined mark: A combination of all or some of the above.
- Color mark: This sign requires thorough proof of distinctive character. An example is the well-known Tiffany blue.
Once you have decided which type of trademark to register, you can begin the registration process. We strongly advise you to consult a lawyer on this matter to avoid legal red tape and inaccuracies in the registration. The registration process consists of three stages:
- Filing the application for examination and uniqueness analysis at the Industrial Property Office (Úřad průmyslového vlastnictví). This should be done after you have confirmed the uniqueness of your trademark yourself (by checking the trademark database published on the Office’s website).
- Publication of the application by the Office within three months. Anyone who objects to your application can notify the Office of their opposition.
- Waiting for the trademark to be entered in the register. This process can take from 5 to 12 months, and in some cases, even longer.
The cost of the trademark registration process in the Czech Republic starts from 5,000 CZK (excluding lawyer’s fees). For Europe, it starts from 15,000 CZK (excluding lawyer’s fees). But if your business ambitions are high, registering a trademark is the right move!
UniMFA does not provide trademark registration services, but we can recommend a lawyer who will help you in this process.