Choosing the name of your business is an important step. How do you know whether you are making the right choice and that the name you choose will not work against someone else?
Use the Name checker to check what already exists before you register your trade name and/or your brand name.
Choosing the name of your business is an important step. How do you know whether you are making the right choice and that the name you choose will not work against someone else?
Use the Name checker to check what already exists before you register your trade name and/or your brand name.
Choosing the name of your business is an important step. How do you know whether you are making the right choice and that the name you choose will not work against someone else?
Use the Name checker to check what already exists before you register your trade name and/or your brand name.
On this page:
Trade name or trademark? An important difference
There is an important distinction between a trade name and a trademark. If you actively usea trade name, it is automatically protected. But only in the region where your company is active. Outside that region, other companies are allowed to use your name. If you want the exclusive right to a name, you have to register it as a trademark. You can register your trademark for the entire Benelux (the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg) ar BOIP. Read more about the difference between trade names and trademarks.
About BOIP
BOIP is the English abbreviation, and acronym, for the Benelux Office for Intellectual Property. Weare the official body that registers trademarks and designs in the Benelux (i.e. Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg). We help entrepreneurs in the Benelux to protect their intellectual property in as simple a manner as possible.
About the Name checker
You can use the Name checker to check whether the name you have chosen is already in use. BOIP and the Chamber of Commerce have built this tool together enabling you with a single search request to search in both the BOIP Trademarks Register and the Chamber of Commerce Business Register. The tool directly shows the most significant results for your name and helps you to interpret them. You will also receive tips on how you can protect your name. It means you can start directly with a strong name for your business.
Questions?
If you need help or further explanations, please contact the BOIP Information Centre. We will be happy to help you further.
What do I do now?
What do these search results mean and, more importantly, what do I do with them? What does it mean when there are already other trade names and/or trademarks that exist? Does it mean there is a risk? Watch the videos below for more explanation or check the frequently asked questions.
Trade name or trademark? An important difference
There is an important distinction between a trade name and a trademark.If you actively use a trade name, it is automatically protected. But only in the region where your campany is active. Outside that region, other companies are allowedto use your name. If you want the exclusive right to a name, you have to register it as a trademark. You can register your trademark for the entire Benelux (the Netherlands, Belgium and
Luxembourg) ar BOIP Read more about the differences between trade names and trademarks.
About BOIP
BOIP is the English abbreviation, and acronym, for the Benelux Office for Intellectual Property. We are the official body that registers trademarks and designs in the Benelux (i.e. Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg). We help entrepreneurs in the Benelux protect their intellectual property in as simple a manner as possible.
About the Name checker
You can use the Name checker to check whether the name you have chosen is already in use. BOIP and the Chamber of Commerce have built this tool together enabling you with a single search request to search in both the BOIP Trademarks Register and the Chamber of Commerce Business Register. The tool directly shows the most significant results for your name and helps you to interpret them. You will also receive tips on how you can protect your name. It means you can start directly with a strong name for your business.
Questions?
Do you need help or further explanations? Check the frequently asked questions or contact our colleagues in the BOIP Information Centre. We will be happy to help you further.
What does this mean?
Do this check before you start using your name.
- Check whether you can find the name using Google. If someone else has already been using your trade name for a while, that other person has the first claim to the name. That is also the case if the other person has not registered the name in the Chamber of Commerce Business Register.
- If you are absolutely sure that your name is still available, continue reading on this page.
What do I do now?
There is an important difference between a trade name and a trademark. If you actively usea trade name, it is automatically protected. But only in the region where your campany is active. Outside that region, other companies are allowed to use your name.
Registering your trade name as a trademark
Would you like to have the exclusive right to your name? If so, you can apply to register your trademark with us: the Benelux Office for Intellectual Property. We are the official body that registers trademarks and designs in the Benelux (i.e. Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg).
Register your trademark in 4 steps
Do you want to know how you can register your trade name as a trademark? Run through our 4steps.
- Check whether your trademark already exists.
- Check whether your trademark is distinctive.
- Select the correct products and/or services.
- Apply to register your trademark.
Questions?
If you still have questions about choosing your name or how to use the Name checker, take a look at the frequently asked questions or contact our Information Centre. We will be pleased to help!
Do you need advice?
BOIP being a non-commercial independent body, we are pleased to be able to provide you with extensive information about registering your trademark. However, we are unable to give advice about your personal situation.
If, despite our help, you still have difficulties with your application, we advise you to contact a legal specialist in trademark law. They can advise you on the best protection for your brand and take care of the registration procedure for you. You can find contact details of specialists at www.bmm.eu.