Trademark watching: preventing infringement and misuse

Registration alone is often not enough. Besides the registration of your trademark, it is also important that the trademark is ‘watched’. You will have to actively monitor and watch your trademark(s) to prevent others from infringing them. The registration of a trademark is a good first step towards protecting your Intellectual Property; trademark watching is a useful tool for indentifying infringements and misuse of your trademark in a timely manner.

Early detection for opposition

Early detection of infringement or misuse is essential because the law prescribes particular deadlines for the submission of an objection (opposition) to a registration that conflicts with your trademark. The watching of a trademark is not a one-off action, but requires proactive trademark management. Novagraaf’s trademark watching services make it possible to compare all new registrations in the national and international trademark registers with your trademarks.

Investigation by Novagraaf

The advanced system used by Novagraaf facilitates the comparison of identical or similar trademarks (names and logos) in those countries where you also have trademark rights. Based on the results of this analysis, we will send you a notification indicating which trademark/s is/are very similar or identical to your trademark. If you possess earlier trademark rights in a particular territory, then in many countries you will have the right to oppose the registration of what you consider to be a conflicting trademark at the relevant trademark register. If your objection is justified, the conflicting, later trademark will not be registered in the trademark register.

Would you like to know more about the benefit of trademark watching? We will be happy to show you some practical examples. Please get in touch with Novagraaf.

Monitoring with TMwebscan

With the advent of the internet, a whole new marketplace has been created; a new channel in which products and services are bought and sold. For companies, the internet provides an opportunity to react to a larger market and the ability to reach a target audience more easily. But, the internet is also used by those who want to use or abuse your name or trademark; for example, by selling your products with your brand without your permission. Sometimes, these products are real (for example, by means of parallel imports), but often they are counterfeits. Online marketplaces or auction sites, such as eBay, are also frequently used.

To distinguish between use and misuse, Novagraaf has developed a unique tool, the TMwebscan. With the TMwebscan you have a means of acting against unauthorised use and misuse. The TMwebscan also offers a business intelligence tool for searching on social media sites. This enables you to see what is being said and communicated about your brand: a useful tool for reputation management.

Would you like to know more about trademark watching?

Would you like to know more about the benefits of trademark watching? We will be happy to show you some practical examples and services. You can also turn to us with questions about trademark registration, trademark infringement and litigation. Please get in touch with Novagraaf. You can do this using the contact form on the right top of this page.

If you are a small business active in your own country and would like to know more about monitoring national rights, click here for more information. If you are mainly active overseas, please click here.