According to published statistics, the European Union is a market of 500 million inhabitants and an estimated Gross Domestic Product in 2010 of 12.3 Trillion Euro ($17.3 Trillion) versus some 10 Trillion EURO ($14.21 Trillion) for the USA in 2010. The EU offers a significantly larger market than the US.
Companies seeking to enter the European market will want to register the associated Domain Names for their local European website, and should also protect their company’s name and that of their products with local Trademarks. Trademarks are also important in protecting company Domain Names.
In the European Union, a Community Trade Mark provides complete coverage for all 27 EU Member States with a single Registration, while a ‘.eu’ domain name provides a single identity for the EU region. Trademark Registrations are valid for 10 years and are renewable, while Domain Names must be renewed each year. Registration costs over a 10 year period for both Trademarks and Domain Names are approximately the same.
While organizations based outside the European Union are free to register both CTM Trademarks and ‘.eu’ Domain Names, they will need a ‘Local Presence’. In the case of a (CTM), this representative must be a Lawyer recognized by the Community Trademark Office.
The applicant for a ‘.eu’ domain name must be an undertaking having its registered office, central administration or principal place of business within the Community, or established within the Community without prejudice to the application of national law, or a natural person resident within the Community.
Being part of a company registered within the EU, TM Services can provide this Local Presence, as well as the necessary legal representation for Trademark applications, for companies who are registered outside the EU.
TM Services offers a simple to use on-line application form for both Trademark and Domain Name registrations. Apart from Europe the company also offers Trademark and Domain Name Registration Services for virtually all countries around the world.
Larger companies will also be interested in using an on going monitoring service to identify any possible infringements to their Registered Trademarks, or the registration of typos or ‘lookalike’
For more information on Trademark and Domain Name Registration services, please contact us at mail@tmservices, or visit our website at http://www.tmservices.eu
