Trademark Registration in Malta
Consultancy in Malta
Trademark Registration in Malta
Malta has long recognised the value of fostering innovation and creativity, with over 50 years of policy focused on safeguarding Intellectual Property (IP). This commitment has helped shape a framework that encourages original thought while ensuring fair use and adequate protection for rights holders.
The country’s IP system is aligned with European Union legislation, providing a legal environment that balances the interests of both users and creators. Maltese law ensures that individuals and businesses using IP-protected products do so fairly, while creators and owners are properly compensated and protected.
When it comes to trademarks, Malta follows a single-class application system. This means each class of goods or services must be applied for separately, as opposed to jurisdictions that allow multiple classes under one filing.
Trademarks registered through the Malta Intellectual Property Office (IPO) are valid for a period of ten (10) years from the date of registration. These may be renewed for additional ten-year terms, offering long-term protection to brand owners.
HOW WE DO IT
The Process
Protecting your brand in Malta starts with a crucial step: trademark registration. The process begins with a comprehensive trademark search to confirm that your mark is distinctive and not already in use. Once this is complete, an application is submitted to the Industrial Property Registrations Directorate within Malta’s Commerce Department, detailing both the applicant and the trademark.
After submission, the Malta Intellectual Property Office (IPO) reviews the application to ensure all formal and substantive criteria are met. The trademark must be clearly represented and possess distinctive character to qualify for protection.
If no issues arise during examination and no opposition is filed during the publication period in the Official Gazette, the trademark proceeds to registration. Once registered, the holder is granted exclusive rights, enabling legal protection against unauthorised use.
This efficient and transparent process offers businesses a robust legal foundation to establish and secure their brand presence in Malta’s competitive landscape.
International Trademark Registration in the EU
Registering a European Community Trademark (CTM) offers an efficient and cost-effective solution for securing trademark protection across all 27 European Union member states through a single application. Once granted, a CTM holds the same legal weight as a national trademark registration in each EU country individually—streamlining the process and significantly reducing costs compared to filing in multiple jurisdictions.
Before proceeding with a CTM application, Finance Partners strongly recommends conducting an in-depth trademark availability search across all EU member states. Since a CTM can be opposed based on existing identical or similar trademarks in any one of the EU countries, thorough preliminary research helps identify potential risks and avoid costly opposition proceedings from multiple jurisdictions.
In today’s fast-paced, innovation-driven market, Intellectual Property has become one of a company’s most valuable assets. Ensuring proper protection of your brand is a strategic decision, and one that should be made with care and foresight.
At Finance Partners, we guide clients through every stage of the trademark process—whether registering a national mark in Malta or seeking broader protection via a European CTM – offering tailored solutions to support and safeguard their brand identity.
