The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) informs that abnormally long lists of goods and/or services are included in the applications for registration of trademarks. Usually, the number of goods and services in a trademark application is up to 50, and applications containing more than 10,000 terms have recently been submitted to the Office.
We have repeatedly stated in articles published on the website that it is advisable to include in the application registration of a trademark only the goods and/or services for which the mark will be used, including the goods and/or services that will be produced/offered in the future.
We would like to point out, that long lists of goods and/or services can have a number of disadvantages for the applicant, namely:
- a higher risk of deficiencies in the classification;
- delays in the publication and registration of the European Union trademark;
- an increased risk of conflict with other marks (risk of opposition);
- an increased risk that the trademark will eventually be canceled due to similarity to the earlier mark or non-use for some goods and/or services for which the mark is registered.
It is therefore advisable to seek the assistance of an intellectual property specialist when the time for registration of a trademark has come, who will prevent you from applying for registration of a trademark containing an unusually long list of goods and/or services. The trademark specialist will assist you in selecting the goods and/or services for which the mark will be applied for registration and will offer an adequate range of goods and/or services for which the mark will be registered. At the same time, an experienced specialist will warn you that if you do not use your mark with respect to all the goods and/or services for which the mark is registered, it would be easier to be revoked. More information about the benefits of working with an intellectual property specialist is available in the article “Why are you advised to assign the trademark registration to a trademark specialist?“