In the competitive context of the modern market, a trademark is not only an identifying sign of a product or service but also an intangible asset representing the reputation and prestige of the business. In Sweden, registering a trademark gives the exclusive right to use and prevents others from copying or exploiting it. However, this conservatorship is not permanent but is only valid for a certain period of time. In order to maintain the legal validity and monopoly rights that have been established, the renewal of a trademark registration in Sweden is an extremely important legal procedure. Missing the renewal deadline may lead to the loss of protection rights, Viet An Law would like to guide customers on the procedure for renewing trademark registration in Sweden through the article below.
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According to Swedish law, each trademark registration (including the initial registration and subsequent renewals) will be valid for 10 years. This 10-year period is calculated from the date of filing the initial trademark registration application at PRV. In the case of an application for priority (e.g. from a previously filed application in another country), a period of 10 years will be counted from the date of the claim for such priority. In order to ensure that your trademark continues to be protected and maintains the exclusive right to use in Swedish territory after the current 10-year period ends, it is mandatory for the owner to carry out the registration renewal procedure.
PRV specifies two periods during which trademark owners can carry out renewal procedures:
In order to maintain the protection of his/her trademark in Swedish territory after the 10-year period ends, the trademark owner or legal representative needs to carry out the procedure for filing a renewal request. Currently, the Swedish Intellectual Property Office (PRV) accepts two filing methods as follows
This is a fully digitized method and is the fastest and most effective way to carry out the renewal. To apply online, you need to access the official website of PRV (prv.se) and use a specialized electronic service system (e-service) for intellectual property procedures, including trademark renewals.
The online application process is as follows: you will need to log in to the system, provide the correct registration number of the trademark to be renewed, and then fill in other necessary information in the electronic fields according to the step-by-step instructions on the interface. This information includes the owner’s confirmation, the groups of products/services that you want to continue protecting, and other relevant details.
This is the traditional method and is still accepted by PRV even though it is less popular in the digital age. You need to visit PRV’s website to find and download the appropriate trademark renewal application form. After downloading, you fill in all the required information completely and accurately in the application form. Once completed, you need to print the completed form and mail it to the official address of the PRV.
Once the trademark owner or representative has filed the application, the file will be forwarded to the Swedish Intellectual Property Office (PRV) for processing. The inspection and validation process at PRV includes the following key steps:
As a first step, PRV will receive your renewal request. The processing officer will carry out a preliminary check to ensure that the application has been submitted with all necessary basic information. At the same time, officials will verify the payment of fees. PRV will also check if the time of filing the renewal application is within the permissible limit (within the usual deadline of 12 months before the expiration date or within the renewal period 6 months after the expiration date).
In the event of any omissions in information or if there is a problem that needs clarification, PRV may contact the owner or representative to request additional information or clarification. If all information is accurate, complete and compliant with regulations, PRV will approve the renewal application.
Once the renewal application is confirmed by PRV as valid, PRV will update the renewal information in the Swedish Trademark Register. At the time the information is updated in the Registry, the renewal is considered legally complete, and your trademark continues to enjoy protection for the next 10-year term.
After the update of the Register is completed, PRV will issue an official document which is a Notice of Confirmation of Successful Renewal. This notice is legal evidence confirming that your trademark renewal procedure has been processed and approved by PRV.
