Trademarks

As an entrepreneur you invest time, energy and money in your company. You build up a good name, creating economic value. This value lies in the trade name of your company, the name of your product or service or in the logo. Maybe all three. You don't want a third party piggy-backing on your efforts.

It therefore makes sense to protect your trade name, brand name and logo. Doing so puts you in a position whereby you can take action against anyone counterfeiting or using them without your authorisation.

Registration at the Chamber of Commerce or the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises (KBO, Belgium) and registering your domain name are a very good start, but they do not provide trademark protection for your trade name or logo.

Are you looking for optimal protection for your name or logo? If so, apply to register a trademark. You can register both your trade name and the logo of your product, service or company as a trademark.

More about trademarks

Register your trademark

Apply to register a trademark in four steps

Registration protects an important asset: your trademark. The registration process does, however, involve some time and effort. Costs also apply. Follow the steps below to check what options and opportunities are open to you.

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

From € 244,- for 10 years

Check the fees

Let's go

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Why opt to register your trademark?

Monopoly on the trademark
Registering secures your exclusive right to use your trademark to promote the goods and services covered by the registration.
Protection against unauthorised use
By registering, you are in a better position to take action against those who want to piggy-back on your success.
Sign of professionalism
You can leverage your trademark registration by using the ® mark. It conveys professionalism and will inspire confidence in your clients.
A trademark is valuable
A registered ® trademark is a valuable asset. Selling or licensing your trademark becomes more lucrative.

Upon successful completion of the registration procedure, your trademark will be entered in the official Benelux Trademarks Register.

What happens to your application?

More about the procedure

Maintaining a trademark

Has your trademark been registered? If so, it's important to maintain your trademark registration. This involves using your trademark actively, being vigilant that no one else uses it, and, if they do, taking action against them. You can maintain it yourself, or you can use the services of an external IP professional.

Maintaining a trademark

De Beeldmarketeers help customers with the perfect design for their website/webstore from day one. Our value is defined largely by our customer base, but also by our brand. That is why we made the decision to register our name and logo.

Marc Vreuls: owner

De Beeldmarketeers

Déposer ma marque 'Makesenz', c'est protéger mon business et assurer son développement sur le long terme. C'est aussi important à faire pour mieux valoriser son entreprise face à des investisseurs ou repreneurs éventuels.

Sophie Trenteseaux

SENZ sprl

Trademark registration outside the Benelux

You can apply to register a trademark for the Benelux at BOIP. Do you (also) want to register your trademark outside the Benelux? If so, you can register it for the entire European Union, for example, or for specific countries inside or outside the European Union.

Trademark registration outside the Benelux

FAQs about Trademarks

Can I patent my name?

No, that is not possible. Patents are only granted for technical inventions. You can protect a name, such as the name of your company or goods and services, under trademark law. Trademark law is different to patent law. You can apply for a trademark registration to protect your name. More about trademarks

How much does a trademark registration cost?

The basic fee is 244 euro. Additional costs depend on the goods and services for which you are claiming protection. View all fees

I have registered my trademark. Can I now use the R sign?

Once your trademark is registered you can use the ®sign to advertise the registration of your trademark. This looks professional and inspires confidence in your customers. However, there is no law that prohibits the use of the ®sign for non-registered trademarks. The fact that a trademark bears the ®sign does not necessarily mean that it is actually registered. You can check whether a trademark is registered in the Benelux Trademarks Register, the official place of publication for registered trademarks.

Why is the Benelux Trademarks Register open to the public?

The Benelux Trademarks Register is open to the public because everybody must be able to check:

whether an identical or very similar trademark already exists, before they file a trademark application;
whether an application has been made for the same or similar goods or services after your registration.

You can also view the deadline for filing an opposition (objection) in the Trademarks Register (always within two months of the date of publication).

Will I be sent an invoice?

We do not send invoices. Upon filing your trademark application, you will receive confirmation by e-mail. The PDF appended is also intended for your administrative records and contains an overview of the payable fees.

More FAQs