Trademark Searching

A full trademark search is an analysis to assess whether your brand name, logo or slogan conflicts with existing trademarks. It examines earlier trademark rights that may be legally relevant to your products or services.

Without a trademark search, you risk refusal of your application or being forced to stop using your trademark later on. A trademark search helps prevent legal problems, unnecessary costs and rebranding.

You may face oppositions, legal claims, damages or be required to change your name. This can have significant financial and commercial consequences.

If a trademark is too similar to an earlier trademark and is used for similar goods or services, there may be a likelihood of confusion. This makes registration or use risky.

Likelihood of confusion means that the public may believe your trademark originates from the same company as an existing trademark, or that there is an economic link between the two.

This depends on the desired scope of protection. It may include Benelux, EU or international registers, supplemented with trade names and sometimes domain names.

In general, there are two options: a Quick Scan, which is a search for (more or less) identical trademarks, and a Full Search, which is a comprehensive search for identical and similar trademarks.

A Quick Scan is a search for (more or less) identical trademarks. It quickly identifies the most obvious obstacles. Chiever can conduct a Quick Scan in any country worldwide. Results and advice are typically provided within 1–2 working days, and the costs are limited.

It is important to note that this is not the most comprehensive search. A complete picture of potential risks is only obtained through a Full Search.

A Full Search examines both identical and similar trademarks. It goes much deeper than a Quick Scan. As a result, it is more extensive, takes longer and is more costly, but it provides a much more complete risk assessment.

No. A Full Search primarily focuses on similar trademarks. Even a small similarity can be legally relevant.

Depending on the region and scope, it usually takes a few working days to about a week. Costs vary based on the region, depth of research and number of classes. A Full Search is more expensive than a Quick Scan, but it often prevents much higher costs later.

A self-check only shows whether an identical trademark exists. A full trademark search also examines similarities in name, pronunciation, meaning and visual impression, and assesses the likelihood of confusion.

Yes. Chiever also conducts searches for logos and figurative marks. However, there is no identical Quick Scan available for logos. A Full Search is always required, which is a comprehensive search covering identical and similar trademarks.

No. A trademark search provides a risk assessment, not a guarantee. However, it significantly increases the likelihood of successful registration.

You will receive an explanation of the risks and possible next steps, such as adjusting the trademark, limiting the goods and services specification or choosing an alternative name.

Yes. The assessment is always linked to your specific activities. A trademark may be acceptable in one industry but problematic in another.