Use trade marks in your business

Registering a trade mark outside the UK

Registered trade marks are territorial. If you apply for a trade mark in the UK, you'll only have protection in the UK.

If you're considering taking your services or exporting your goods overseas - now or in the future - you might want to consider registering your trade mark in other countries for wider protection. See our guide on intellectual property protection overseas.

Generally, you have to register trade marks in each of the countries where you want protection. However, there are two other options which could make life easier.

Registering in the European Union

You can apply for a Community Trade Mark through the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (OHIM) website - Opens in a new window. This will give you protection in all European Union countries.

Registering worldwide

Under the Madrid System, if you have applied for UK registration of your trade mark you can also apply for an International Trade Mark through the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) website - Opens in a new window.

Getting help

Registering trade marks overseas can be complicated and it's a good idea to get help from a qualified trade mark attorney or patent attorney. Find a trade mark attorney on the Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys (ITMA) website - Opens in a new window.

Subjects covered in this guide

• Introduction
• What is a trade mark?
• How to register a trade mark
• Registering a trade mark outside the UK
• Defend your trade mark
• Respect other people's trade marks
• Trade marks and domain names
• Here's how I deal with trade mark infringements
• Here's how I protected my idea with a trade mark (Flash video)

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