Back to Cost of trademark registration

Can you register a trademark for free?

Founder & Trademark Attorney

No. Trademark registration involves a government fee paid to the IP office, and there is no mechanism to waive it entirely. IP offices are governmental bodies that charge for the official processing of applications.

Some IP offices offer reduced fees for certain applicants, such as SMEs, individual applicants, or non-profit organizations. The EUIPO, for example, offers a fee reduction program for qualifying EU-based small businesses. These reductions lower the cost but do not eliminate it.

Related questions

Generic trademarks: the case of Booking.com

By definition, a trademark needs to display sufficient distinctiveness to identify the origin and ownership of the products and services. That means generic and descriptive words should be avoided at all costs. The landmark case in United States PTO v. Booking.com B.V, however, proves that a generic term combined with “.com” or another top-level domain can be registered as a trademark if there is sufficient evidence of consumer recognition.

When should I register my trademark?

Timing is everything, and this is especially true when it comes to trademark registration. Choosing to trademark your brand at the right time is much more important than you would think.

12 good reasons for fashion retailers to register a trademark

There is a myriad of reasons why trademark registration is of a crucial importance for fashion retailers. This article presents a concise summary of 12 key reasons why every creator of fashion trends should think about registering for a trademark.