How to Secure Your Brand Name
Η registration of a brand name is vital to protect your business identity and prevent breaches. A brand name is not only about the name of a company or a product, but also about the reputation, credibility and recognition that a company gains in the market.
In this guide, we will look at what is brand name registration, how it differs from a trademark and what steps you need to take to ensure its exclusive use.
What is Brand Name Registration?;
The establishment of the brand name concerns the official registration and legal protection of your trade name. This can be done in several ways:
- Registration as trademark (trademark) through the competent organisations (OBI, EUIPO, WIPO).
- Registration as a company name through the General Commercial Register (GEMI) if it is a company name.
- Registration of the domain name related to your business, so you can protect the brand online.
Brand Name Registration vs. Trademark Registration
Many businesses confuse the brand name registration with the trademark registration. Although they are related, there is a significant difference:
| Brand name | Trademark (Trademark) |
|---|---|
| It is the name of a business or product. | It is the legal protection of a name, logo or symbol. |
| Secured through the GEMI for legal entities. | Secured through the OBI, EUIPO or WIPO. |
| It does not protect against commercial infringements. | It provides exclusive rights of use. |
For full protection, the best practice is to register your brand name and as a trademark.
Brand Name Registration Procedure as a Trademark
If you want full protection of your brand name, the registration as trademark is the most powerful solution.
1. Research availability of the Brand Name
Before registering, you must ensure that the name is available and unique. This can be done through:
- Trademark databases (OVI, EUIPO, WIPO).
- General Commercial Register (GEMI) for the company name.
- Domain name availability on the internet.
2. Choice of vesting level
Vesting can be done at three levels:
- National level through the OBI (only for Greece).
- European level through the EUIPO for protection in 27 EU countries.
- International level through the WIPO (Madrid System).
3. Submission of a registration application
The vesting process includes:
- Description of the brand name and its commercial use.
- Selection of the appropriate protection classes (according to the International Classification of Nice).
- Submission of an application to the competent body (OBI, EUIPO or WIPO).
4. Examination of the application and objection period
After submission, the competent authority examines whether the brand name meets the legal requirements and publishes it for 3 months, giving third parties the right to object.
5. Approval and issuance of a certificate
If there are no objections or if they are rejected, your brand name is registered and valid for 10 years renewable.
Brand Name Registration on the Internet
In addition to commercial protection, it is important to ensure that the digital identity of your brand.
1. Domain Name Registration
Protect your brand by registering your brand name as domain name ending in .gr, .com, .eu, etc.
2. Create Social Media Handles
It is important to maintain a unified presence across all platforms (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok), using the same brand name.
How to Ensure the Exclusivity of your Brand Name
After registration, follow the steps below to protect your rights:
- Use of the name on all your products and services.
- Monitoring for any violations through online monitoring tools.
- Submitting objections to similar brand names that can be confusing.
- Renewal of the registration every 10 years to preserve your rights.
What DARC Advertising can do for your business
Η DARC Advertising provides comprehensive brand name registration services to national, European and international level. We take care of the whole process, from the availability survey until issue of the certificate of registration.
