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A trade mark is a sign which, when used in the course of trade, can serve to distinguish one trader's goods or services from those of other traders.
Registration of a trade mark gives the proprietor the exclusive right to use the trade mark in relation to the goods or services for which it is registered, and the right to take legal action against third parties who use the same or a similar trade mark on goods or services identical or similar to the goods or services covered by the registration.
Trade mark registrations must be obtained for each country in which protection is required. This can be achieved by:
- filing separate national trade mark applications in each country;
- filing a Community Trade Mark application, which covers all member states of the European Union; or
- filing an "International" (Madrid Protocol) Trade Mark application designating a number of countries.
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