A trademark is the brand identity of a business, and it can be used to create a strong brand presence in the competitive industrial sector. The UAE is known for its economic diversity and business-friendly environment, and as a result, competition in the industrial sector is extremely high. A business should be able to establish a strong market presence through a distinct trademark. A strong trademark can help you with the registration process and also to obtain legal protection. Choosing a strong trademark will help you to stand out in the market, and also it will be able to distinguish your products and services from your competitors.
Importance of a strong trademark for business:
A strong trademark will be distinctive and can distinguish the products and services of a business in the market. A strong trademark will help you obtain customer trust and loyalty, which will eventually lead to business growth. Also, a strong mark will be beneficial to secure legal protection. If you have a strong trademark, then you can prevent others from using identical or similar trademarks. In case of trademark infringement business will be able to prove it easily with a strong trademark. Try to use your registered trademark in commerce to improve the value of your mark.
Key strategies to choose a strong trademark:
Legal compliance
In the UAE, a trademark is governed by the Federal Decree Law no 36 of 2021. You can choose a name, logo, design, symbol, or slogan as your trademark. In the UAE, a trademark should be distinctive and unique to be eligible for registration; also, it should not be descriptive or offensive. While choosing a trademark, make sure that your mark is not confusingly similar to any existing marks. The chosen trademark should not describe the goods and services of a business.
Trademark search
A trademark search will help you determine if there is any similar trademark registered. Sometimes, minor similarity can lead to infringement claims, and this is why trademark search is really important in the UAE before filing a trademark application.
Avoid generic and descriptive terms (weaker trademarks)
Businesses should not use generic terms for trademarks because they won’t qualify for registration. Generic terms are marks that identify their products or services. For instance, choosing a trademark “Mango” for Mangoes. The descriptive trademark will define the nature or function of a product. For example, choosing “Pizza shop” as a trademark for a Pizza business. A descriptive trademark can be registered if it has acquired distinctiveness over time.
Choose a Suggestive mark
A suggestive mark will be a suitable choice for a strong trademark, as it can provide hints of the quality of the products or services. These marks won’t give a proper idea regarding a product, and to choose these marks, one should have good imagination and creativity. Some of the major suggestive trademarks are Pinterest and Jaguar. Microsoft is a good example of a suggestive trademark; it suggests that the product is software for microcomputers.
Choose an Arbitrary mark
These marks can create a strong trademark because it doesn’t have any inherent connection to the products and services that a business offers. One of the major examples of an arbitrary mark is APPLE for computers.
Choose a Fanciful Mark
These marks are completely made-up words that don’t have any meaning. For example, PEPSI and GOOGLE are fanciful marks.
After choosing a strong trademark, you need to register it with the UAE Ministry of Economy to obtain legal protection. A registered trademark will offer you ownership rights and validity.
International trademark registration for business
UAE is a member of the Madrid Protocol, and due to this, businesses in the country can secure international trademark protection. This will be a good choice for brands that plan to expand their business globally. For international business operations, you need to have a unique trademark business such as PEPSI, and Jaguar has a unique trademark which can be used internationally. So, choose a trademark wisely if you are planning to expand your market.
Secure your trademark in the UAE with the guidance of trademark agents:
Choosing a unique trademark will be useful to acquire a competitive advantage in the market. Customers will be able to instantly recognise your mark if it is a strong one. Jitendra Intellectual Property is the major IP service provider in the UAE, and we can help you with the trademark registration procedure. We can guide you to choose a unique trademark by conducting a trademark search. A registered trademark should be monitored to maintain its value, and we will help you with trademark monitoring and enforcement.
