EU Trademark vs. Spanish Trademark

What is a trademark?

Trademarks protect ​distinctive signs​ that identify your products and differentiate your goods or services from other providers.

Distinctive signs are amongst others:

• names
• logos
• colors
• images
• patterns
• shapes
• packagings of goods
• sounds 

Trademarks usually give 10-year-long protection, which is starting from the date of the application. It may also be renewed 10 years at each time. The one who owns a trademark could profit from it either by permitting others to use it by a licensing agreement or selling it.

What is the difference between a national trademark and a European trademark?

A natural person or a legal person who only needs protection in one EU country, for example in Spain, could register a trademark in that specific country at OEPM. However, if this person wishes to get protection or earlier mentioned benefits in all EU countries (for example a national Spanish company that would like to protect its logo, while going international and start trading in other EU countries), then one should register a European trademark at EUIPO. For international protection even outside of the EU, one would need to register with the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO).

INTRO-LAW.COM can help you with trademark law and registration (Spanish and EU trademarks and intellectual property law).