Trademarks

The purpose of a trademark is to distinguish the products of an enterprise, or the enterprise itself, from those of other enterprises. A trademark must be graphically reproducible. Trademarks may consist in words, logos, slogans, letter and number combinations, but they may also consist in the shape of the goods themselves or their packaging, e.g. a perfume bottle.

A trademark right in Denmark may be obtained by:

- putting the mark to use in Denmark,

- filing for a Danish national registration, or

- filing for a Community Trademark registration (CTM).

The advantages of registration instead of mere use include an easier means of documenting your rights. A trademark is valid for 10 years and may be renewed for 10 years at a time thus in principle lasting eternally. 

The registration of national trademarks and international designations of Denmark through the Madrid Protocol is carried out by The Danish Patent and Trademark Office. The registration of Community Trademarks is overseen by The Office of Harmonisation in the Internal Market (OHIM).

For more information about trademarks, see the website of the Danish Patent and Trademark Office, which contains a guide to the registration of trademarks.