Registering overseas

In general you need a separate trade mark registration for each country where you want your mark protected.  A UK registration, for instance, allows you to stop people using your trade mark in the UK (including on imports), but it can't be used to stop anybody operating in other countries.

Applications for overseas trade mark registrations can be filed up to 6 months after you file a UK application for the same mark, and they still get the benefit of the initial UK date.  So we normally advise a UK applicant to file here first and delay overseas applications until 6 months later.

Overseas trade mark applications can be costly, especially since you need one for each country of interest.  There are however systems which simplify the procedure and reduce the costs involved.  You can apply for a "Community Trade Mark" for instance; this is a single registration which automatically covers the whole of the EC.  Under a system known as the "Madrid Protocol", you can also file a single application which will mature into trade mark registrations in several different countries, including if you wish the USA, Japan and even the EC.