A Guide to Trademark Renewal Documents: How to Prepare Efficiently and Avoid Potential Pitfalls

The various documents and procedures involved in trademark renewal may seem trivial, but in reality, these steps are crucial to protecting a company's intellectual property rights and require no carelessness. Especially with internationalization, different countries and regions have varying requirements for trademark renewal documents, requiring companies to be meticulous when handling multi-country renewals.

• Trademark renewal application
  • The key document for trademark renewal is the renewal application. Specific requirements for trademark renewal vary across the world, and the relevant documents and supporting information required also vary, including the trademark application/registration number, Nice Classification details/goods and services categories, and the renewal category. To ensure the information is correct, trademark owners will need to provide previous trademark documents, such as the original trademark registration certificate.
• Proof of Trademark Use
  • In some countries, such as the United States, trademark owners are required to provide documentation proving that the trademark is still in use.
• Trademark renewal and fee documents
  • When you apply for trademark renewal, you must pay a renewal fee. The official renewal fee varies depending on the region and the number of classes in which your trademark is registered.
• Power of attorney
  • Trademark renewal in some countries requires a power of attorney.
• How to prepare trademark renewal documents
  • While trademark renewal documents are relatively simple and easily accessible, there are still numerous opportunities for error. For example, incorrectly filling in the desired renewal class or forgetting to renew in certain regions. Improperly submitted renewal applications can result in business delays, additional costs, and even cancellation of the trademark registration after the renewal deadline has passed.
• Special Requests
  • Some countries, such as most countries in the Middle East, require notarized and authenticated documents when renewing a trademark. Trademark owners need to set aside time for this to prevent the renewal period from expiring.