Anna registers her trademark in Norway
First step – protection in the home country
Anna has developed a new helmet that combines safety and comfort. She calls it "Galea" , a name that symbolizes strength and speed. To prevent others from using the name on helmets, she wants to register it as a trademark in Norway.
To secure her trademark, Anna must choose the right classes
When Anna applies for a trademark, she must choose which types of goods and/or services the name "Galea" will apply to. All goods and services are divided into 45 international classes. A trademark only provides protection for the goods and services selected in the application itself – it is not possible to add new ones later.
Anna wants to protect the name for helmets and related products, and she also plans to develop accessories and headwear to match the helmet. Therefore, she chooses products that fall into these three classes:
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Class 9: Helmets and protective equipment
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Class 28: Sports equipment
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Class 25: Clothing, footwear and headgear
Do you need help with classes?
It is not always easy to know which products and services the trademark should apply to. An IP advisor can help you choose the right classes and services within the different classes, so that you get protection for what you will actually be selling.
Tip: Think ahead about your plans. It is not possible to extend the protection to include more goods and services at a later date.
This is how Anna goes about applying for a trademark:
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The logo (optional): Anna hires a design agency to create a logo. Alternatively, she can choose to register "Galea" as a pure word mark .
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Researching other people's trademarks: Anna gets into the system and uses the Norwegian Industrial Property Office's register to look at what her competitors are doing. This, together with the product selector , gives her an idea of which classes are relevant.
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Contact the Norwegian Industrial Property Office's customer center: Anna receives free guidance from the customer center before she proceeds with the application.
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Preliminary examination (optional): She asks the Norwegian Industrial Property Office to check whether "Galea" is already registered as a trademark and whether it has distinctive character. The assessment is made against the three classes for which Anna wants protection.
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Price: NOK 4,750 excl. VAT (NOK 3,500 for one class + NOK 625 per extra class, delivery time: 5 days)
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- Application: Anna applies for trademark registration for helmets, sports equipment and headgear.
Anna's cost overview in Norway
To apply for trademark protection in Norway, Anna must pay a fee. The basic price for one class is 3,800 kroner. Since she chooses a total of three classes, she must also pay 2,000 kroner for the two additional classes. The total application fee is therefore 5,800 kroner.
Using an IP advisor is optional, but can be useful, especially if she is considering applying in multiple countries. Anna chooses to submit the application herself to the Norwegian Industrial Property Office, without an IP advisor.
(table can be removed)
| Country | Where are you applying? | Number of classes | Do I need an IP advisor? | Price from NOK |
| Norway | The Finnish Patent Office | 3 | No, but possible | NOK 5,800 |
| What is included in the cost: | |
| Application fee including 1 class* | NOK 3,800 |
| Additional fee for 2 extra classes* | NOK 2,000 |
| Any IP advisor (optional) | ... |
| *Optional preliminary examination may be additional. | NOK 4,750 |
| A registered trademark provides protection for 10 years, and must then be renewed for a renewal fee. |
Anna is considering international protection
Anna is considering protecting her trademark in several countries. Since she has already filed an application in Norway, she has six months to extend the protection. If she files within this period, she can keep the Norwegian filing date in the other countries. This is called priority, and gives her an advantage if someone else files for a similar name in the meantime.
Think internationally from the start
If you are going to use the trademark in other countries later, it is a good idea to check now whether the name is already taken outside Norway. This can save you problems later.
Tip: Feel free to use databases such as TMView and WIPO Global Brand Database to check the name in other countries.
Anna registers the trademark in several countries
Sales of the "Galea" helmet increase thanks to an online store and good marketing. Anna enters into an agreement with a retail chain and launches a matching headgear. To protect the brand in several countries, it is important that Anna early on develops a strategy about which markets she wants to sell her helmet in.
This is how Anna proceeds:
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Market check: Anna uses international databases to check whether "Galea" is already registered in the relevant countries.
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IP advisor (optional): An IP advisor helps Anna with both strategy and the application process itself. The IP advisor checks for obstacles in the various markets.
Anna sees the market potential as greatest in Germany, Italy, Spain, France, Portugal, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, the US and Canada. The helmet will be manufactured in China, so she will also want to protect her trademark there.
She uses WIPO's calculator to estimate the costs of applying for registration of the trademark "Galea" via the Madrid System. The calculator allows Anna to easily set up a budget and gives her an overview of which countries increase costs.
Anna's cost overview internationally
Anna is considering applying for trademark protection in several countries. She has already submitted an application in Norway, and knows that she has six months to extend the protection internationally. To get an overview of the costs, she uses WIPO's calculator and enters the countries in which she wants protection.
She sees that it costs around NOK 8,000 in fees to WIPO to use the Madrid System . In addition, there are fees for each individual country, which in her case – with three classes in many markets – amounts to around NOK 55,000. For some countries there is also a fixed additional fee of around NOK 5,000. In total, Anna must expect a cost of around NOK 75,000 to secure her trademark internationally.
She is also considering using an IP advisor. It is not a requirement, but it is recommended, especially when applying in multiple countries at the same time.
The use of an IP advisor is recommended and will be in addition to this.
| Country | Where are you applying? | Number of classes | Do I need an IP advisor? | Price from NOK |
| More countries | Madrid System | 3 | Recommended | Approximately NOK 75,000 |
| What is included in the cost: | |
| Application fee to WIPO* | about NOK 8,000 |
| The fees to the selected countries including 3 classes* | approx. NOK 55,000 |
| Additional fee - a fixed fee for countries that have not set their own fee* | about NOK 5,000 |
| Possible IP advisor (recommended) | ... |
A registered trademark provides protection for 10 years, and can then be renewed for a renewal fee. *Prices are paid in Swiss francs. The amounts here are approximate and stated in Norwegian kroner. |
Explore multiple paths to international trademark protection
The Madrid system is a common way to secure a trademark in several countries, but there are also other options. Do you want to know what options Anna has?
Summary: Important tips when applying for a trademark
Think through what you sell: You need to choose the goods and services for which the trademark will be used.
Think strategically: Do you want to use the trademark only in Norway, or also in other countries?
Check if the name is available: Use databases to see if someone has already registered the name as a trademark.
Plan your costs: Consider what is necessary for your business.
Use an IP advisor if necessary: An IP advisor can make the process easier, especially if you are applying in multiple countries.
