What is a collective trademark?

A collective trademark is a special mark used to distinguish goods and services provided by members of an organization. Unlike regular trademarks, which represent individual businesses, collective trademarks are owned by organizations and used exclusively by their members. These marks can include letters, words, designs, names, and more.

Key Features
1. Ownership and Usage
– Owned by the organization.
– Used only by members.

2. Purpose
– Identifies quality and geographical origin.
– Highlights the source of goods and services.

3. Forms
– Can be words, letters, numbers, names, or logos.
– Represents the organization or its members.

Regulations
Regulations for collective trademarks include:
– Association name and office addresses.
– Objectives of the association.
– Member details and conditions of membership.
– Conditions governing the use of the mark and sanctions.
– Procedure for appeals related to mark usage.
– Authorized users of the mark.
Collective trademarks help ensure that products and services provided by an organization’s members maintain high standards and a consistent reputation.