Collective marks and guarantee or certification marks
Collective marks
A collective mark must be able to be used by all members of an association. The mark must be able to distinguish the members' goods and services from the goods and services of other businesses.
An association or organisation of manufacturers, service providers or other traders, as well as legal subjects under public law, can obtain the exclusive right to use such a mark for their goods and services.
Guarantee or certification marks
A guarantee or certification mark should show that goods and services have been checked or certified with regard to, for example, materials, production method or quality. The mark must be able to distinguish goods and services that have been controlled from those that have not been subject to such control.
Government bodies, foundations, companies and anyone else can obtain the exclusive right to use such a mark. However, the owner of the mark cannot himself run a business with sales of the goods or services to which the control applies.
Previous system
Until 1 March 2023, "Collective marks" was the term used for both types of marks.
You can see examples of registered collective marks and guarantee or certification marks in our database
Provisions for use of the marks
In order to obtain registration of this type of mark, there must be associated provisions that apply to the use of the mark. The provisions must contain the following information:
- who has the right to use the mark
- the conditions for membership in the association
- the terms of use of the brand, including sanctions
- the brand owner's obligations to enforce liability against anyone who uses the brand in violation of the provisions
- the trademark owner's rights and obligations towards the users, including the right to control, possibly by specific control bodies
If the mark is a guarantee or certification mark, letter b does not apply.
If the provisions are changed after registration, the amended provisions must be sent to the Norwegian Industrial Property Office for registration and publishing.
How to apply for a collective mark or a guarantee or certification mark?
To apply for a collective or guarantee or certification mark, send an application to the Norwegian Industrial Property Office (NIPO). It is not possible to use our application guide for collective marks or guarantee or certification marks.
Use the application form in Altinn
How much does it cost to apply for a collective mark or a guarantee or certification mark?
The application fee for registration for one class of goods or services is NOK 4000. If you wish to register your mark for more than one class, you must pay an extra fee per class.
More information on fees.