Timeline for the application process
Get an overview of the entire timeline from what you should think about from before you apply for a trademark to after you have been granted a right.
Before you apply
Before you apply to register a trademark, there are several things that are important to take into account. This is an overview of the most important aspects.
Check if the trademark is available
Here you can check whether there are other trademarks similar to yours, as this may prevent your use. Do a search in our trademark register.
My applications and receipts
Have you already started an application process or are you going to pay for the renewal of your trademark? Log in to follow your case.
Check if the trademark is available
Make sure there are no other trademarks similar to yours. You can do a simple search in the Norwegian Industrial Property Office's trademark register. Also remember to search in international databases if you are thinking of going internationally.
What type of trademark should you register?
There are several different types of trademarks. The most common are word marks, figure marks and combined marks.
Trademark, company name or domain name?
Before you register a trademark, it is important to check whether this is also available as a company name and domain name.
Via Navnesøk.no, you get an easy overview of whether your name is available.
Here we explain in more detail what the difference is between a trademark, company name and domain name.
If you register a trademark, you get the exclusive right to use the mark, and can prevent copying and imitations.
When you apply for trademark registration, we will assess whether the trademark meets the requirements in the Trademarks Act for, among other things, distinctiveness. We also assess whether the mark is likely to be confused with already registered marks.
If the trademark meets all the requirements, the trademark is registered and you get exclusive rights to it. The Norwegian Industrial Property Office will then prevent others from later registering trademarks that are similar to yours.
A registration in the Brønnøysund registers is an automated process where you get protection against others registering an identical company name. You will not receive an assessment of whether the requirements of the Trademarks Act have been met. There is thus greater uncertainty about what kind of protection you have against similar company names and trademarks.
A domain name is an address on the internet. It is common to link websites or email addresses to the domain name.
A ".no" domain can be registered with Norid through a domain reseller. And Norid are then the ones who administer the ".no" domain.
A domain name is a right to use a web address, but does not give any legal right to the name itself. This means that others can register the same domain name as a company name, trademark, or as a domain name under another top-level domain such as .com or .org.
If you have a registered trademark, you can more easily get someone's domain name deleted if they have registered it in bad faith.
Requirements for a trademark to get it registered
The law sets certain requirements for trademarks that must always be met.
The trademark is a guarantee that the goods and services come from one specific manufacturer or supplier. There is therefore a requirement that the trademark should enable the customer to recognize the product in a buying situation. The mark cannot describe the products, both because one does not want to perceive it as a trademark, and because it would be unreasonable if one actor were to get exclusive rights to a word or symbol that others need to use to describe their product.
When the Norwegian Industrial Property Office receives a trademark application, we investigate whether the trademark can be confused with already registered trademarks. If this is the case, we must reject the application.
There are also other requirements for trademarks that may be an obstacle to registration. Among other things, you cannot register marks that are misleading for the goods/services applied for, or marks that are suitable to be perceived as the name of a particular person.
How much does it cost?
You must pay an application fee for us to process your application. A trademark application costs from NOK 3 800.
The registration lasts for 10 years from the date of application. You can renew your registration every 10 years an unlimited number of times. The renewal fee costs from NOK 3 400.
How long does it take?
If everything is in order with your application, the processing time is approx. 3 weeks.
Register in several countries?
If you are going to produce or sell outside Norway, it is smart to secure trademark rights in these countries.
You must also check that no one else has a similar trademark for the same goods and services in the countries where you wish to establish yourself.
Do you need help in the application process?
Get an overview of the possibilities available to you and what you must do if you wish to file an application. The experts at NIPO are very experienced and can give you insight into what is important for you to consider during the application process.
Start a trademark application
Go directly to our application guide to start the application process. The link goes to a login page. After logging in, you can start the application.
How to write a trademark application
It is important that the content and format of the application are correct.. Here we explain how to write a good application.
No Norwegian national ID-number?
Learn more about our secure electronic solution in the Norwegian internet portal Altinn.