News and updates
Modified fees, new guidelines from the BOIP and the EUIPO and rulings that matter — and what they mean in practice.
What changes this year in monitoring your trademark?
Trademark law itself rarely changes, but the classification and registers against which your trademark is checked do change regularly. This article explains what that means for monitoring your trademark.
Read more →The most common mistake when combining name and logo in a single trade mark application
Many entrepreneurs register their business name and logo together as a single figurative mark. This seems efficient, but it can actually weaken the protection of the name itself.
Read more →What documents do I need to have a trademark licence registered?
An overview of what the BOIP and EUIPO require to register a trademark licence in the register, and why the licence agreement itself often raises the most questions.
Read more →How long does it take for your mark to be fully registered?
A mark application goes through multiple phases, each with its own timeframe. This article outlines the complete processing time and shows where delays typically occur in practice.
Read more →What does it cost to add extra classes to your trademark?
Expanding a trademark to new products or services cannot simply be done as an amendment to your existing registration; it is usually a new application with its own official fees. This article explains where the cost comes from and what determines your final expenses.
Read more →Does trademark protection apply to my private company in formation?
A private company in formation cannot file a trademark application itself because the legal entity does not yet exist; this article explains what practical options startups do have and what must happen later.
Read more →Can I use the same brand name as a business in a different sector?
Trade mark protection is linked to classes, so the same name in a different industry is often possible — but the boundary is less clear-cut than many entrepreneurs think.
Read more →What happens if I don't notify the trademark register of an address change?
A trademark register sends official correspondence to the address on file with the BOIP or EUIPO. If you don't report a move or address change, important mail may not reach you — with consequences for opposition periods and renewal deadlines.
Read more →Are the rules for a trademark application the same in every country?
No: the procedure, the time limits and the requirement for representation differ by country, even for the same mark. An overview of what can vary by country and where to find that information.
Read more →Can I respond to an opposition against my brand myself?
You can partly handle an opposition to your trademark application yourself, but the substantive defense often requires legal knowledge that goes beyond filing the application.
Read more →Does a change in trademark law also apply to your pending trademark application?
You hear that something is changing in trademark law and wonder whether it will affect your own application or registration. This article explains how transitional law usually works and where you can check it for your own file.
Read more →The most common mistake after registration: not using your trade mark
A registered trade mark protects you only as long as you actually use it. Those who forget run the risk that a third party will successfully have the registration cancelled.
Read more →What documents do I need to report a name or address change for my mark?
A change of address, merger, or new statutory name must be reported separately to the BOIP or EUIPO. This article sets out what evidence is required and why even a small discrepancy can cause problems.
Read more →How long does it take for your trademark application to be published?
Before the opposition period begins, your trademark application must first pass a formal and substantive examination. This article explains which steps are involved and where the processing time can be delayed in practice.
Read more →What does it cost if there is opposition to your trade mark application?
Opposition to your trade mark application involves more costs than the fixed fee alone. This article explains where those costs come from and what determines their amount.
Read more →Does trademark protection apply to my freelance business or sole proprietorship?
Trademark law has no minimum size requirement: a freelancer or sole proprietor can register a trademark and benefits from it just as much as a larger enterprise.
Read more →Can I register my brand name if it is descriptive?
A name that simply describes what you sell often fails the examination by the BOIP or EUIPO. This article explains why, and what you can do if your preferred name encounters this obstacle.
Read more →What happens if I don't monitor my mark?
Without monitoring, you often notice a similar mark application too late, and by then the legal deadline to object has already passed. This article explains what can go wrong in practice.
Read more →Do I need to choose different classes if I register my mark outside Europe too?
The Nice Classification is international, but how strictly a trademark office assesses the class description varies by country. This particularly affects entrepreneurs who want to register their Benelux or EU mark outside Europe as well.
Read more →Can I handle my trade mark application myself?
Any entrepreneur can file a trade mark application themselves, via a free account at the BOIP or EUIPO. Find out here where the line lies between what you can do yourself and what requires guidance.
Read more →Will the choice between Benelux and EU mark change this year?
The BOIP and EUIPO periodically revise their fees and the Nice Classification. This article explains what may shift in the assessment between a Benelux mark and a Union mark as a result, and what remains constant.
Read more →The most common mistake when choosing the mark owner
Whoever is listed as the applicant on the mark application will become the owner of the mark — not automatically the business that uses it. This goes wrong more often than entrepreneurs realize.
Read more →What documents do I need to transfer my brand to another company?
In the event of a sale, merger or restructuring, the brand often moves to another legal entity. This article lists which documents are required for this and why registration of the transfer weighs the hardest.
Read more →How long does it take before you know if your brand name is available?
The conflict scan itself is fast, but 'knowing whether a name is available' requires more than one click. This article explains where the timeline gets held up.
Read more →What does trade mark monitoring cost for your mark?
An overview of how the costs of trade mark monitoring are structured and what factors determine the price of these subscriptions.
Read more →Does my trademark protection also apply to products I'm not yet selling?
A trademark does not protect your entire business, but the specific goods and services you specify in your application. What this means for plans still in development, you can read about here.
Read more →What is trademark dilution and why should you know about it as a business owner?
Trademark dilution means that a brand name loses its distinctive character, for example because it becomes a common word for the product. This article explains how it happens and what you can do about it.
Read more →What happens if I do not respond to an opposition against my trademark application?
If someone files an opposition against your trademark application and you take no action within the deadline, your application will normally be rejected. This article explains what specifically changes and what you can still do.
Read more →Do I need to use my mark before I can register it abroad?
In the Benelux and the EU, you do not need to use a mark first in order to register it. Outside Europe, this is often different, and that difference determines how you prepare an extension to foreign countries.
Read more →Can I renew my trademark myself?
Renewal is administratively straightforward, but the pitfalls lie in timing and assessment. This article shows what you can handle yourself and where guidance really makes a difference.
Read more →Does trademark law change this year for my business?
Trademark law itself rarely changes, but the class classification, official fees charged by BOIP and EUIPO, and their online systems are regularly updated. This article explains what actually changes and who is affected.
Read more →What is the most common mistake when choosing classes for your mark?
Most problems with a mark application do not arise from the name, but from the choice of classes: too narrow, too vague, or simply copied from a competitor. This article shows what goes wrong and how to avoid it.
Read more →What documents do I need to renew my trademark?
When renewing a trademark, the BOIP or EUIPO does not require proof that you are actually using the trademark — but you must ensure that the trademark holder's details are still correct.
Read more →How long does the opposition period last for a trademark application?
After a trademark application is filed, there is a period during which others can file an objection. This article explains which phases this period includes and where the processing time tends to get stuck in practice.
Read more →What does it cost to renew a mark?
The costs of a mark renewal consist of the official fee of BOIP or EUIPO, which increases with the number of classes and the chosen mark territory — here you can see where the amount comes from.
Read more →Does trademark protection apply to my slogan?
A slogan may be eligible for trademark registration, but not every catchy phrase meets the requirements set by the BOIP and the EUIPO.
Read more →How many classes should I select in a trade mark application?
There is no fixed number of classes you must select in a trade mark application: too few limits your protection, too many costs unnecessary fees and can make your mark vulnerable to revocation for non-use.
Read more →What happens if I don't register my trademark?
Without registration, you have no exclusive right to your name or logo. This article explains clearly what risks that concretely entails and what happens if someone else beats you to it.
Read more →Does my trademark work outside the EU?
A Benelux or EU trademark stops at the border of that territory. This article explains what changes if you also seek protection outside Europe and where the rules vary from country to country.
Read more →Can I do my trademark monitoring myself?
Keeping an eye on the trademark registers yourself is technically possible, but the opposition period is short and assessing similarity is more difficult than it seems. This article shows where doing it yourself stops and where surveillance becomes useful.
Read more →Do I need to change my brand if the class layout changes?
The NICE classification that classifies classes is updated periodically. This article explains what that does and does not mean for a trademark that you have already registered.
Read more →What is the most common mistake when choosing a trade mark name?
The most common mistake is choosing a name that primarily describes what you sell. Such a name often lacks distinctive character, and that leads to refusal — even if no one has registered that name yet.
Read more →What documents do I need for a trademark application?
A trademark application requires less paperwork than most entrepreneurs think, but one element is often overlooked: your own account with the BOIP or EUIPO. This overview shows what you do and do not need to provide.
Read more →How long does trade mark registration take?
The processing time of a trade mark application consists of fixed phases at BOIP or EUIPO, and delays are usually not caused by the office's waiting time but by what goes wrong beforehand.
Read more →What does it cost to register a mark?
The costs of a mark registration consist of an official fee to the BOIP or EUIPO and a service fee for guidance; how much that is in total depends on classes and territory.
Read more →Does trademark registration apply to your business?
Not every business runs the same risk without trademark registration. This article explains which factors determine whether it is urgent for your situation.
Read more →What happens if you forget to renew your mark on time?
A mark registration is valid for ten years and lapses automatically if you do not renew it on time — with all the consequences this has for the protection of your name or logo.
Read more →We help entrepreneurs and SMBs with smart, tailor-made AI solutions. No off-the-shelf packages, no unnecessary costs. Only what you really need to make your business more efficient and profitable.
At marcai.eu, we believe artificial intelligence doesn't have to be complicated. It's not about the latest technology for technology's sake. It's about results. About saving time. About making better decisions based on data. About relieving your team of repetitive work so they can focus on what really matters.
We understand the challenges facing SMBs. Limited budgets. Little time for IT projects. Uncertainty about where to start. That's why we work noticeably differently from large consulting firms. No expensive consultants spending months on research. No suffocating contracts. No hidden costs that suddenly appear.
Our approach is pragmatic. We listen to your specific problems, analyze where AI truly adds value, and implement quickly and purposefully. Whether it's automating administration, improving customer engagement through chatbots, or predictive analytics for your inventory management—we find the solution that fits your situation.
Read our latest insights and success stories. Discover how SMBs like yours are already working more efficiently. And get in touch when you're ready for change.