Trademark Sign - How to Register a Trademark in Colombia?

In this article we explain the procedure to register a trademark in Colombia and what is the symbol of a registered trademark.

1. What is a trademark?

A trademark is a distinctive sign whose purpose is to differentiate the products or services of one business from others, aiming to prevent likelihood of confusion in the market.

2. The importance of having a trademark.

For any business owner, it is very important to have a trademark, as trademark registration provides the possibility to:

• Use it exclusively and prevent third parties from using it without authorization.
• Prevent a competitor from registering it first and taking ownership of the corresponding name.
• Enter into franchise or licensing agreements for the use of the trademark.

3. Steps to register a trademark.

Before registering your trademark, it is recommended to conduct a prior trademark search to determine if there are any existing trademarks or pending applications that pose a risk of confusion with yours; that is, identical or similar trademarks that identify identical or related products or services.

Once you have the search results and they are favorable, you should begin the registration process with the Superintendence of Industry and Commerce (SIC).

The process to register a trademark takes approximately ten (10) months and consists of the following stages:

• Submission of the application.
• Formal examination.
• Publication.
• Third-party oppositions.
• Substantive examination.

4. What is the symbol or sign of a registered trademark?

The symbol to indicate that a trademark is registered varies by country. In English-speaking countries, the TM symbol is generally used. However, in Spanish-speaking countries, the symbol R within a circle is used.

Below, we present the most commonly used symbols to indicate that a trademark is registered:

To apply for the registration of your trademark in Colombia please contact us.