🇨🇭 Swiss Trademarks — International Export Strategy
Protect your brand before expanding into new markets
Why trademark protection before exporting?
An unregistered trademark in the target market can lead to imitation, import bans and losses in the millions.
Imitation
Third parties can register your brand in the target market and shut you out of it.
Import ban
Customs authorities can seize your goods if a similar trademark exists in the target country.
Reputational damage
Brand dilution and loss of trust caused by imitations damage your brand image long-term.
Recommended protection measures by market
| Market | Authority | Form of protection | Deadline | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Switzerland (CH) | IGE | National trademark | Before market launch | IGE |
| EU (27 countries) | EUIPO | EU trademark (EUTM) | Before EU distribution | EUIPO |
| Germany | DPMA | National DE or EUTM | — | DPMA |
| USA | USPTO | Federal TM | 1–3 years | USPTO |
| UKSeparate post-Brexit | UKIPO | National UK | Separate post-Brexit! | UKIPO |
| International | WIPO | Madrid System | Home trademark required | WIPO |
| ChinaFirst-to-file! | CNIPA | National CN | Before export! | CNIPA |
Protecting Swissness
Swissness is a unique Swiss selling point and legally protects the origin designation "Swiss Made". Products must show a defined share of value added in Switzerland.
60% value-added share for industrial goods (Art. 48c MSchG)
Check SwissnessMadrid System cost overview
WIPO base fee
CHF 653
Per designated country
CHF 100–850
depending on the country
Term of protection
10 Jahre
per territory
LegalBrandCheck Export Package
- ✓International TM search (EUIPO, IPI, USPTO, CIPO, LATAM)
- ✓Madrid gap analysis
- ✓Swissness compliance check
- ✓UK clone risk assessment
- ✓Zefix CH register check
