Use of the trade mark
Use your trade mark
You can use your trade mark as you can any other piece of private property. You can sell or it pledge like you would a piece of jewellery. It also has a value, which you can enter on your balance sheet. Likewise, you can permit others to use it by granting them a user licence.
Use required by law
You are required to use your trade mark in connection with the goods and services for which it is registered. If you don't use it within five consecutive years, you could lose your rights to it.
In principle, you must use the trade mark in the form in which you have had it registered, although minor changes are allowed.
Cancellation procedure for trade marks on the grounds of non-use
It is possible to request the cancellation of a trade mark that is not being used commercially, and therefore must no longer be protected, through a simplified procedure via the IPI. Trade marks that have not been used for the goods or services for which they are registered during a continuous period of five years can be subject to such a procedure.
In this procedure, the trade mark owner is allowed to provide important reasons for the non-use or use of his trade mark. This rapid and cost-effective process is regulated in the Trade Mark Protection Ordinance. It provides, in particular, the possibility to decide on cancellation in clear cases of non-use of a trade mark.
Alternatively, it is possible to bring an action for the cancellation of a trade mark on the grounds of non-use before a civil court.
News
01.01.2021 | Law and policy
The sic! journal in partnership with the Helbing Lichtenhahn Verlag from 2021
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18.12.2020 | Media release, Indications of source, Law and policy
The ‘Swiss’ brand is adequately protected
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17.12.2020 | Patents, Media release
A new record – more than one thousand inventions under the microscope eading
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Events
30.09.2020 | Event, IPI, Partners and initiatives
Swiss Innovation Forum 2020 to be held as an online festival
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24.02.2020 | Law and policy, Event, Training
«CAS IP Law»: Course begins in autumn
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