Consider, at the first place.
In Republic of Korea, the industrial structure is organized mainly focusing on export manufacturing. It is reported that manufacturing accounts for 30% of GDP, ranking 1st in the OECD countries and 5th in the world. A statistical report 2015 reveals that manufacturing export accounts for 86.8% of Korea’s total exports.
In such a situation, many companies begin to consider launching new products, overseas from the beginning. For example, at the step of deciding on product brand, it is required to consider verbal pronunciation as well as negative evaluations about it, and further, trademark registration.
In the case of any country that trademark registration must be demanded as well as at home, it is required to search prior trademark and judging the chance of registration, in advance, from the step of launching of brands, and establish a strategy of registration, in order to reduce cost and time.
Please inform us whether a new brand is used for domestic demand only or for exportation, and of the country where it can be exported. We search prior trademark at home and abroad simultaneously before filing the trademark application domestically.
Three Options
We have three options of searching overseas trademarks.
1. Searching through free on-line trademark DB
We search concisely through free on-line Trademark DB, including TMview, WIPO Global Brand Database, and online DB that the Patent offices in major countries provide.
Cons.: Free of charge, and the search outcome is provided within two days.
Pros.: Reliability of search result lacks, because we are not local professionals. Also, many countries do not provide on-line DB and cannot make similar search.
2. Searching through outsourcing companies
We can judge the registrability based on raw data through outsourcing companies provide such as WIPS.
Cons.: Low cost is involved, compared to the work handling through the local agent, which can carry out simultaneous procedures of cases in a lot of countries. Searching through specialized search companies can lead to low rate of omission of searching. Even countries that do not provide on-line DB allow to search.
Pros.: Because we are not local agent, reliability of opinion could be quite low, because a judgement on the distinctiveness and dissimilarity of the marks are different from each country and each examiner.
3. Searching and Judging through Local agents
Searching and judging the chances of registration can be made , through attorneys in local countries. We have worked in collaboration with local agents in major countries in the world, for more than 10 years. We would like to work only with companies which provide reliable services, at a reasonable cost, for a long period of time.
Cons.: It guarantees most reliable search results and judgement.
Pros. : High cost is involved. Especially in the case of countries such as the US and Europe calculating timely basis, search cost could be higher than the filing of trademark application cost.
All of 1, 2, 3 above include merits and weaknesses. Therefore, establishing each different strategy is necessary according to the size and importance of project. No. 1 has not caused a big problem. However, it could be better to choose No. 2. In the case of very important trademark, it is needless to say that No. 3 is the best.
Do you launch new export product brands? Establish strategies for trademark registration with us , from searching to registration procedures, at the first place.
