A trademark search is a recommended step before filing a new trademark application. It helps identify existing marks that may conflict with your proposed trademark and prevent problems during the registration process or in later use. Filing without a prior search may result in refusal of the application, oppositions from competitors, unnecessary expenses, and in extreme cases even the loss of investments made in building the brand.
Our firm reviews national and international trademark databases – typically the Industrial Property Office of the Czech Republic (IPO CZ), the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). We look for identical and similar marks and assess them in relation to the goods and services that the client intends to protect.
The results of the search are then analysed from a legal perspective. We evaluate whether there is a risk of confusion, the likelihood of oppositions, or the possibility of court disputes. Our output also includes recommendations on whether it is suitable to register the mark in its original form, whether to adjust its wording, or whether to narrow the list of goods and services.
We also provide clients with an estimate of potential additional costs (for example, those connected with defending against oppositions or negotiating with owners of earlier marks) and propose strategies to avoid them. A search therefore gives you not only clarity on whether your application is likely to succeed, but also practical guidance on how to prevent future complications and minimise risks.
For this reason, a trademark search is a key step to ensure that trademark registration becomes a real investment in your brand rather than a source of disputes and unnecessary expenses.
