Register trademark in Norway

The registration of a trademark in Norway gives you an exclusive right to use the trademark to identify your goods or services. The exclusive right means that others cannot use a trademark that could be confused with yours for goods or services of the same or similar type as those for which your trademark is registered.

The right covers use of the trademark on the actual goods and in advertising, on documents, in oral representation etc.

A trademark may consist of all kinds of symbols and must be reproducible in graphic form. A trademark can consist of words and combinations of words (for instance, slogans), names, logos, figures and images, letters, numbers, sounds, and moving images, or a combination of these.

The trademark registration lasts for ten years, but it can be renewed every ten years an unlimited number of times.

Complaints
If you have registered a trademark and believe that someone has registered a business name which can be confused with your registered trademark, you may complain to the NIPO.
If someone has registered a domain name identical to your registered trademark, or which can be confused with your trademark, and you believe the person has not acted in good faith, you may complain to the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Committee. A complaint must be raised within three years after the domain was registered or transferred. UNINETT Norid AS is the secretariat for the Committee and can provide information and guidance.

International trademark registration

The trademark registration is only valid in the country where it has been registered. If you are selling goods abroad you might consider registering your trademark in other countries as well. Norway is a member country of the Madrid Protocol - a system for the international registration of trademarks. It is also possible to register a trademark valid for all the member countries of the EU.

Grace period
There is a grace period for those goods and services included in the trademark registration. This means that the trademark must be applied to all the goods and services under the trademark registration within 5 years from the time of registration. If you fail to apply the trademark within the grace period others may have the trademark deleted.