After registration, your trade mark is protected in Switzerland for 10 years from the filing date without any additional costs.

However, you must use your trade mark at the latest five years after registration (known as the grace period), otherwise you could lose your rights.

If someone registered a similar or identical trade mark before you did, they can oppose the use of your trade mark.

• Filing an objection
• Bringing a claim before a civil court

Ask your opponent for an excerpt from the trade mark register. By comparing both trade marks and the protected goods and services, you'll get an initial idea of the potential risks. You can also enlist the help of a trade mark consultant for this.