Register a trademark

- Types of searches for national trademarks

Extended initial identity verification search for Italian, EU and international trademarks for only €98.00 with VAT up to
28/February/2026

N.B.: In the event of a modification or change of brand name following a negative outcome in the initial expanded identity verification search, the subsequent search and evaluation is free of charge.

- Introduction :

Before filing a trademark application, it is always advisable to conduct a prior art search that verifies not only the possible existence of identical trademarks, but also any similarities that may arise in conflict.

A search can save users from spending huge sums on advertising and then having to change their previously advertised brand, potentially incurring legal fees and damages.

The lack of a prior art search exposes the client to the risk of finding prior art trademarks in conflict for an average percentage of 60%, especially in the case of words in the English language (a purely operational estimate).

Strategically, we recommend first conducting initial identity searches to screen out names of potential interest while keeping costs low and reducing subsequent similarity searches. 

It is advisable to carry out a similarity search, especially if the level of investment is rather high and the resulting damages are high.

The user may decide not to carry out similarity searches for their own cost-benefit assessments, accepting the associated risks relating to damages and costs arising in the event of disputes after filing.

In the case of class 05 products and similar, it is also advisable to carry out a search on the drugs in use.

The similarity search also analyses Traditional Products, Controlled Designation of Origin, Controlled and Guaranteed Designation of Origin, Typical Geographical Indication, Grape varieties, Vegetable species varieties, and Agricultural species varieties.

Why should I carry out Community and international trademark searches if I file a national trademark ?

If there is a Community or international trademark nationalized in Italy, these are also valid in Italy and do not appear in searches for Italian trademarks only.

The filing of a national trademark subsequent to the filing of a Community and/or international trademark may be contested by the owner of the Community trademark, who can request the cancellation or transfer of the national trademark in his favor.

To file a trademark in Italy, it would be sufficient to consult the database of Italian trademarks, Community trademarks, and international trademarks.

However, if you plan to extend your brand abroad, it's helpful to analyze the national trademark databases of major countries right from the start. This helps you choose a trademark that's also useful abroad, avoiding having to change or modify it later.

Nb: The searches identify Italian, EU and international trademarks

N.B.: Community trademarks are different from the national trademarks of each EU country. Searching for a Community trademark does not therefore mean analyzing whether there are similar national trademarks in each EU country.

In order to find useful clues about de facto trademarks and/or other prior unregistered rights, the following analyses are carried out to complete the searches:

· Analysis of the main identical web domains, both free and occupied, and assessment of the risk of confusion with products already sold by the companies owning the domains, even if the trademarks used by them have not yet been registered (de facto trademarks).

· free search on google

N.B.: These searches are not exhaustive but they help identify grey areas and reduce the risk of disputes.

- Types of searches for national trademarks:

- Information limits :

The searches are never exhaustive and although they have several limitations, they do allow us to provide a clearer view for the decision whether or not to proceed with the trademark filing.

Searches are conducted in official databases with legal validity, which have variable data update times.

Some limitations are:
· delay in updating the database which can reach 2 months;
· The search is in Western characters; country-specific characters are available upon request.
· figurative trademarks are searched for using words that describe the image.

Some images aren't even described, or they're described in overly generic terms, such as "fantasy drawing." Consequently, trademarks are more difficult to identify (specific figurative searches are required).

· Traditional Products, Controlled Designation of Origin, Controlled and Guaranteed Designation of Origin, Typical Geographical Indication, Grape Varieties, Vegetable Varieties, Agricultural Varieties. (Identified only through similarity research)

· the newspapers registered in court are not listed;
· Finding identical Italian company names can be challenging if you have a large number of records;
· de facto trademarks “trademarks used even non-locally” never registered or other unregistered usage rights are not identified;
· A trademark that is already well-known and enjoys cross-merchandise protection is not identified in the relevant classes because it is registered in different classes.
· To find the names of the drugs in use, you need to carry out a specific search.
· According to international conventions, after filing a national trademark, you have a priority right of six months within which to file a Community or international trademark, with reference to the priority of your country of origin. This means that if you have requested the international extension of a previously filed national trademark from a foreign country in Italy, your application filed in Italy may be contested and invalidated. National trademark searches should be conducted for each country party to the Madrid Agreement and/or Protocol (international trademark procedure).

Consequently, the research cannot be considered exhaustive but it is a useful tool for making decisions with a clearer view of the situation.

- Free quote Search Italy & Abroad :