Back to Trademark ownership

Can I register a trademark if my company is not yet in business?

Written by Jan Buza

Co-founder of Trama

Yes, you can register a trademark even if your company is not yet in business. You can apply for the trademark as an individual and transfer the ownership of the trademark to your new business later.

Even if this approach requires additional steps compared to waiting until the launch of the new business, it is generally recommended to budding entrepreneurs so they can secure trademark rights for their new venture as soon as possible.

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How long does it take to register a trademark?

We have looked into the last 1,000 trademarks registered in main intellectual property offices, including USPTO (United States), UKIPO (United Kingdom), EUIPO (European Union), CNIPA (China), CIPO (Canada), ROSPATENT (Russia), IPA (Australia), BOIP (Benelux), IGE-IPI (Switzerland), NIPO (Norway), KIPO (Republic of Korea), and CGPDTM (India), exploring the average time it takes for a trademark to be registered in the selected jurisdictions.

Can you change your trademark over time?

Brands tend to evolve and undergo numerous changes over time. Many companies have changed their names to cater to a larger audience, either by altering their original logos for a more modern look or abandoning controversial words in their slogans. As the company expands beyond its planned offerings of goods and services or decides to take a different direction altogether, usually what follows are certain changes or even complete rebranding. A common question is then: can trademarks change over time? Well, it depends.