How to Check an International Trademark Before Expanding Overseas
JASAMEREK.COM – Planning to export your products? Before entering an international market, make sure you check whether your trademark is available in your target country.
Trademark rights are territorial, meaning that registering your trademark in Indonesia does not automatically protect it abroad. A trademark that is available in Indonesia may already be registered by someone else in another country.
Here’s how to conduct an international trademark search before launching your products overseas.
How to Check an International Trademark
Before exporting your products, you should conduct a trademark search in your target market. The process is similar to searching the Indonesian trademark database, except you’ll be using the intellectual property database of the destination country.
Follow these steps.
1. Choose Your Target Country
Start by deciding which country you plan to enter.
Each country has its own trademark laws, examination procedures, and registration system. Knowing your target market first will help you search the correct trademark database and understand the applicable regulations.
2. Visit the Official Trademark Database
Next, access the official trademark database managed by the intellectual property office of your target country.
Most trademark databases allow you to search by:
- Trademark name
- Trademark owner
- Goods and services class
- Registration number
Fortunately, most countries that are members of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) follow the Nice Classification system, making it easier to identify the appropriate class for your products or services.
3. Search Using Your Trademark
Enter the exact trademark you currently use in Indonesia.
If you’re considering launching under a new brand name, this is also the right time to check whether it’s available before investing in branding and marketing.
4. Review the Search Results
Once the search is complete, review the results carefully.
Check whether:
- The same trademark already exists.
- Similar trademarks have been registered.
- The trademarks cover the same goods or services.
- There could be a likelihood of confusion.
This information helps determine whether your trademark is likely to encounter conflicts in your target market.
Using WIPO’s Global Trademark Search
Searching a country’s trademark database works well if you plan to operate in only one market.
However, if you’re expanding into multiple countries, using WIPO’s Global Brand Database can save time by allowing you to search trademarks across numerous jurisdictions from a single platform.
Here’s how it works.
1. Access the WIPO Global Brand Database
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) maintains the Global Brand Database, which consolidates trademark information from participating countries around the world.
The platform provides several search options to help users locate trademarks efficiently.
2. Enter Your Trademark
The most common search method is by trademark name.
Simply type the trademark you intend to use, and the database will return matching or similar trademarks from participating jurisdictions.
3. Analyze the Results
Because the database covers many countries, you’ll likely receive a wide range of results across different jurisdictions and trademark classes.
Fortunately, the WIPO database includes filters that allow you to narrow your search by:
- Filing date
- Country or jurisdiction
- Trademark class
- Registration status
- Trademark owner
Using these filters makes it much easier to evaluate whether your brand is available in your target markets.
Why Checking International Trademarks Matters
Conducting an international trademark search provides valuable insights before expanding your business overseas.
It helps you:
- Identify existing trademarks in your target market.
- Reduce the risk of trademark disputes.
- Avoid costly rebranding after entering a foreign market.
- Assess the competitiveness of your chosen brand name.
- Make informed decisions before filing an international trademark application.
The information you gather can help determine whether you should proceed with your current trademark or modify it before launching internationally.
The Next Step After Your Trademark Search
A trademark search is only the first step.
Once you’ve confirmed that your trademark is available, you should move forward with international trademark registration to secure legal protection in your target countries.
With Jasa Merek, you can receive professional assistance throughout the entire process—from international trademark searches to filing overseas trademark applications—so your brand is protected as you expand into global markets.
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