Brand Trademark Protection is a complex strategic service that goes beyond simple registration to include active defense of your brand against competitors, counterfeiters, and unfair use. In today's market, where reputation is a business's most valuable asset, merely holding a certificate is not enough; constant monitoring and legal response to infringements are required. This service involves overseeing the market and registries to timely detect attempts to register similar marks or illegal use of the brand. Brand protection also includes registering the trademark with the Customs Registry, which helps prevent the entry of counterfeit (fake) goods into the country. It is a proactive approach ensuring the integrity of your business identity and your exclusive positioning in the market.
What Does Brand Trademark Protection Service Cover?
Lawyers and intellectual property experts implement multifaceted measures for brand security:
- Trademark Monitoring: Constant checking of Sakpatenti bulletins and international databases to identify new applications that are visually or phonetically similar to your brand.
- Filing Oppositions: Submitting a complaint to the Chamber of Appeals of Sakpatenti to prevent the registration of a mark similar to yours by a third party.
- Customs Protection Mechanisms: Registering the trademark in the Registry of Intellectual Property Objects of the Revenue Service so that customs officers can stop suspicious products at the border.
- Cease and Desist Letters: Sending official demands to infringers to stop illegal use.
- Anti-Counterfeiting: Identifying fake products on the market and pursuing legal action (civil, administrative, or criminal).
- Online Brand Protection: Blocking illegal pages on social networks and e-commerce platforms.
Real-World Scenarios Where You Need This Service
Active brand protection is necessary in the following scenarios:
- Competitor Mimicry: You discover that a competitor has registered a logo very similar to yours, misleading customers. Urgent opposition is needed.
- Counterfeit Imports: You are an official distributor or manufacturer, but cheap, low-quality copies have appeared on the market, entering through the border.
- Domain Dispute: Someone registered a website with your brand name and is trying to sell it to you.
- Franchise Violation: A former partner continues to use your signage and brand after the contract has been terminated.
- Reputation Damage: A fake page has been created on social media, spreading disinformation in your company's name.
Georgian Legal Framework and Regulations
The field is regulated by the Law of Georgia on Trademarks, which defines grounds for cancellation and invalidation of trademark registration. The Customs Code of Georgia and relevant bylaws create the legal framework for border measures. In the fight against counterfeiting, the Criminal Code of Georgia (infringement of intellectual property) and the Code of Administrative Offences are used. Disputes are reviewed in the Chamber of Appeals of Sakpatenti (at the registration stage) or in court (in case of rights infringement). The Law on Competition is also important, prohibiting unfair competition using someone else's mark.
Service Process Step-by-Step
Brand protection is a continuous process:
- Risk Assessment: Analyzing existing threats (market research, competitor activity).
- Strategy Development: Creating a protection plan (e.g., prioritizing customs protection or online monitoring).
- Monitoring: Controlling new applications via special software and lawyers.
- Response: Immediate action upon detection of infringement (opposition, sending a letter, lawsuit).
- Enforcement: Receiving compensation for damages and destroying illegal products.
Why Choose Legal.ge?
Brand protection requires specific knowledge and responsiveness. Legal.ge connects you with experienced IP lawyers who have practical experience working with Sakpatenti and investigative bodies. Specialists selected through our platform ensure that your brand is not only registered but actually protected from any threat, allowing you to conduct business with peace of mind.
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