Have questions about trademark protection or Abrande’s services? Our FAQ covers the most common concerns fast-growing companies face — from filing strategies and global monitoring to handling disputes, domain names, and renewals. Find answers to help you protect and grow your brand with confidence.
A trademark legally protects your brand’s identity — such as your name, logo, or slogan — so competitors can’t copy or misuse it. For a scaleup, trademarks secure your market position, add company value, and build investor confidence. It also avoids trademark squatting, where someone registers your trademark in your production country.
Most commonly, names and logos are trademarked, but you can also protect slogans, sounds, colors, and even packaging designs, depending on the jurisdiction.
A professional trademark search is the safest way. At Abrande, we use AI to scan global databases for identical or similar marks and flag potential conflicts instantly.
™ can be used without registration to show you claim rights to a mark. ® is reserved for registered trademarks only. However, bear in mind that the symbols do not have a legal meaning in many jurisdictions.
Typically 10 years per registration, renewable indefinitely as long as fees are paid and the mark is actively used.
Without registration, your brand is vulnerable. You may still have some rights through use, but enforcing them is harder, more expensive, and riskier. Also, you risk infringing on other trademarks without having a trademark registration in place.
You risk costly rebranding, legal disputes, and even losing the rights to use the brand identity, such as your name, if someone else registers your brand first.
Costs vary by region and classes, but Abrande offers fixed, transparent pricing so you always know upfront.
Typically from 4 to 12 months, depending on the office and potential objections. In some countries, the application process even takes several years.
National covers one country, EU trademarks cover all EU states, and international filings (via WIPO) allow you to extend protection to multiple countries from one application.
Ideally before launch or fundraising. Securing your brand early avoids conflicts and reassures investors.
The name usually carries more value and should be prioritized; however, this depends on what products and services you offer. As the name typically remains the same over time, it should be prioritized on that ground too. Logos can follow if they’re central to your identity and are particularly important for consumer-facing products.
No — only where you plan to operate, sell, produce, or face risk. A focused strategy saves costs.
Classes categorize goods and services. For instance, downloadable software falls within class 9 and SaaS services in class 42. Choose the classes covering your core business now and foreseeable expansions.
Use a combination of EU, national, and international filings. Abrande helps scaleups and enterprises build efficient global filing strategies.
Strong trademarks increase company valuation. Investors and acquirers view a protected brand as a safer, more valuable asset.
A trademark portfolio is the collection of all your registered marks. Effective management means monitoring, proactive enforcement, and strategic expansion.
Defensive filings protect against competitors in adjacent markets, while strategic filings cover your core operations and growth areas. Please note that you should only file for trademarks in jurisdictions where you intend to use the trademark, as it otherwise risks getting invalid.
Include both upfront filing costs and ongoing monitoring to enable a proactive enforcement strategy. Abrande offers fixed pricing for full predictability.
File trademarks in markets you either sell and produce in, or intend to do so within a few years’ time. Timing and jurisdiction matter.
Trademark watching detects new applications that might conflict with yours. Without it, you could miss applications filed by someone else, thereby limiting the scope of your exclusive rights.
Traditional services (and even modern alternatives) dump raw results. Abrande combines AI scanning with expert review, delivering only relevant, actionable insights.
You can choose, but global monitoring is recommended if you’re scaling internationally.
Ideally ongoing. Abrande’s trademark watching service runs continuously, identifying conflicting filings early and enabling you to take proactive action.
File an opposition immediately to avoid a more costly cancellation process. Abrande advises and acts quickly to protect your rights.
It’s when someone uses a mark that’s identical or confusingly similar to yours in markets where you have registered trademarks.
With your trademark rights, Abrande can issue takedown notices to platforms and marketplaces. We can even take down entire domains in jurisdictions where you have protection, via UDRP (Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy).
Document the use, contact Abrande, and we’ll assess the best enforcement action — from warning letters to formal disputes. Through our audited expert network, we enforce trademark rights worldwide.
Oppositions block pending trademark applications, cancellations remove existing trademark registrations, and disputes enforce against unauthorized use of a trademark.
Yes. Trademarks are powerful, and most often necessary, tools for takedowns against counterfeits.
We use legal processes like UDRP to reclaim domains registered in bad faith.
With trademark registrations in place, Abrande can submit takedown requests through marketplace brand protection programs.
We file an opposition or cancellation on your behalf, supported by evidence.
They’re often the first enforcement step, signaling seriousness and resolving many disputes without litigation.
Yes, most cases are resolved through administrative actions or negotiated settlements.
Domains are part of your brand identity. Without protection, cybersquatters can misuse them to confuse customers or damage trust.
Register key domains proactively and use monitoring to spot new threats.
Trademark rights often give you the legal basis to reclaim domains registered in bad faith.
Yes — we monitor, detect, and act against infringing domains globally.
Absolutely! Registered trademarks strengthen your case when reporting impersonation to platforms.
AI accelerates searches, identifies risks more precisely, and reduces human error — giving you faster, smarter insights. It’s also used to speed up opposition proceedings, review and respond to cease-and-desist letters, and other trademark-related services. Our ambition is to automate everything that’s possible, freeing up time for strategically important issues and keeping costs down.
AI enables scale, speed, and cost-efficiency that traditional firms can’t match, while our legal team ensures expert judgment — the best of both worlds.
No, not at all. AI supports and enhances legal expertise. As the world’s first hybrid IP law firm, our trademark attorneys and AI work together for the best results.
AI handles the heavy data work, while our attorneys interpret, advise, and act strategically for clients.
In most countries, each trademark must be renewed every 10 years. Abrande manages renewals so you never miss a deadline.
You may lose your rights permanently. Late fees or grace periods exist, but missing them can be costly.
Yes, we manage your renewal schedule proactively and keep costs predictable.
Use centralized management. Abrande acts as your one-stop shop, covering filings, strategy, monitoring, enforcement, and renewals.
Traditional firms offer legal advice but lack tech efficiency. Software tools provide data but no legal judgment. As the world’s first hybrid IP law firm, Abrande combines both — AI efficiency and legal expertise — in one partner.
We’re the world’s first hybrid IP law firm, powered by AI. We provide global reach, fixed pricing, proactive monitoring, and expert legal support tailored to enterprises, scaleups, and fast-growing companies.