How to Register a Business Name in Colombia?

To register a company name as a trademark in Colombia, an application must be filed with the Superintendence of Industry and Commerce (Superintendencia de Industria y Comercio - SIC), identifying the goods or services to be covered by the sign, selecting the corresponding classes under the Nice Classification, and paying the applicable official fees. The registration of a company or its corporate name with the commercial registry does not replace trademark registration.

An important legal distinction should be made: a corporate or business name, a trade name, and a trademark are different types of distinctive signs. Trademark registration protects a sign used to distinguish specific goods or services, whereas the exclusive right to a trade name is acquired through its first use in commerce. Therefore, when a company wishes to protect as a trademark the name under which it identifies its goods or services in the marketplace, it should assess and seek trademark registration before the SIC.

Can a company name be registered as a trademark?

Yes. A name used by a company may be registered as a trademark provided that it is capable of distinguishing goods or services and is not subject to any applicable ground for refusal. Protection does not extend to the company name in the abstract, but rather to the registered sign in connection with the goods or services covered by the registration.

This means that a company may have a corporate name registered with the Chamber of Commerce while simultaneously using and registering an identical or different trademark to identify its goods or services.

How to register a company name as a trademark

The registration process should be structured around the sign that is actually intended to be protected and the goods or services that the company currently offers or intends to offer. In practical terms, the principal steps are as follows:

1. Define the sign and determine who will own it.
   It should first be determined whether the application will cover a word mark consisting exclusively of words or a trademark incorporating graphic elements. The individual or legal entity that will appear as the applicant and eventual owner of the trademark must also be correctly identified.
2. Identify the goods or services and the corresponding Nice classes.
   Trademark protection is sought in connection with specific goods or services. These must be classified under the International Classification of Goods and Services for the Purposes of the Registration of Marks, commonly known as the Nice Classification. The selected classes should therefore correspond to the business activities and goods or services that the trademark is intended to identify.
3. Conduct a trademark clearance search.
   Before filing the application, it is advisable to determine whether prior trademark registrations or applications exist that could constitute an obstacle to registration. The search should assess not only identical matches, but also relevant similarities between the signs and the relationship between the respective goods or services. You may learn more about our trademark search and clearance services in Colombia.
4. Prepare and file the trademark application.
   The application must identify the applicant, the sign for which protection is sought, and the goods or services that the trademark will distinguish. When the mark contains graphic elements, an appropriate representation of the mark must be submitted. If the application is filed through legal counsel, the corresponding power of attorney must also be provided.
5. Pay the official fees.
   The SIC establishes the official fees applicable to trademark registration proceedings. The amount depends, among other factors, on the number of classes included in the application and the official fees in effect for the relevant year.
6. Monitor the proceedings before the SIC.
   Once the application has been filed, the authority reviews compliance with the applicable formal requirements, publishes the application so that third parties may file oppositions where appropriate, and conducts a substantive examination of registrability. If the proceedings continue through a decision on the merits, the SIC determines whether the trademark registration should be granted or refused.

A properly conducted prior search can reduce the risks associated with filing an application, but it does not guarantee that registration will be granted. The final decision rests with the SIC after reviewing the application, the relevant prior rights and, where applicable, any oppositions filed by third parties.

Information and documents required to apply for registration

The information and documents required will depend on the circumstances of each application. In general, the following should be available:

• Complete information regarding the individual or legal entity applying for the trademark.
• The sign for which registration is sought.
• Identification of the goods or services to be distinguished by the trademark and their corresponding classification under the Nice Classification.
• A graphic representation when the trademark includes a logo, design, or other visual elements.
• A power of attorney when the application is filed through legal counsel.
• Any additional documents applicable to specific circumstances, such as a priority claim.

Accordingly, it is not correct to state that every trademark application must necessarily include a logo or a power of attorney: a purely word-based trademark does not require a logo, and a power of attorney is relevant when the applicant acts through legal counsel.

Official fees for trademark registration

For 2026, the SIC's official fees for an online trademark or commercial slogan application are as follows:

• First or only class: USD 410 (aprox.).
• Each additional class included in the same application: USD 205 (aprox.).

Official fees are established by the Superintendence of Industry and Commerce and may change. The applicable amounts should therefore be verified for the relevant year before filing the application.

What protection is obtained by registering the name as a trademark?

The exclusive right to use a trademark is acquired through registration with the competent authority. In Colombia, registration allows the owner to exercise trademark rights over the sign within the scope recognized for the protected goods or services, subject to the limitations and rules established under the applicable law.

Accordingly, registering the name used by a company as a trademark is a legal mechanism distinct from commercial registration and from the protection afforded to a trade name. The appropriate strategy will depend on the sign being used, the company's business activities, and the manner in which the name is presented to the public.