Bringing a Trademark to Life
To make a brand live, the owner must first create one that identifies his business and brand (visual identity, logo). Legal registration must then follow to protect the brand. Once this is done, the owner has sole and full exploitation rights.
Registration
Registering a trademark with the National Industrial Property Institute (INPI – Institut national de la propriété industrielle)
Registering a trademark with the INPI gives the registrant’s products or services recognition. It also allows them to distinguish themselves from competitors – to make them more visible to prospects and to establish a monopoly for exploitation in France for many years.
Infringement on Registered Trademark
No competitor can imitate a registered trademark identically in any way, shape, or form or identify similar or identical services or products without authorization. Penalties for infringement are steep in France. However, it is always possible to negotiate a right-of-use license agreement.
