Amazon trademark register: why register your trademark in France?
The Amazon seller who has his own brand benefits from numerous advantages. He gains visibility with buyers, he controls the product pages that use his brand name, he can remove infringing ads and he can more easily oppose competitors who violate his rights. To take advantage of these benefits, nothing could be easier: it is sufficient to register its mark on the Amazon trademark register.
For those who are not yet trademark holders, the 1era step is the trademark registration. Amazon accepts trademarks that have been registered in certain intellectual property offices, including the following: United States, Canada, Japan, France, Germany, Italy, Benelux, Spain, United Kingdom and the European Union. The complete list can be found directly on the Amazon website. The choice of the Office has no effect on the validity of the mark. In principle, an entry on the Amazon trademark register is valid for all "Amazon Stores". But to be able to defend your brand, it is better to be protected in all countries where you sell your products. In the event of a dispute, Amazon will ask you to prove the scope of your brand. If your budget allows it, it is better to register several trademarks, in all the countries where you sell your products.
Please note that not all applications are equal: costs and procedural delays vary from one office to another. In addition, Amazon does not accept international trademarks registered by WIPO.
A filing in France, with the INPI (French National Institute for Industrial Property)The new system has many advantages.
Fast entry in the Amazon trademark register
Once the trademark has been filed, the chosen Office starts the procedure. Until registration, this one will last several months. The Office will carry out an examination of the form and/or substance of the mark. Then, once the trademark is published, an opposition period begins, the duration of which may vary according to the country of filing.
Previously, it was necessary for the trademark to be registered in order to be listed in the Brand Register. But for the past few months, Amazon has simplified the procedure and accepts published trademarks (pending registration).
Among the various Offices recognized by the Amazon trademark registerThe INPI offers one of the fastest procedures. The trademark is usually published 3 to 4 weeks after filing, and can then be entered in the register. Then, between the filing and the registration, it is generally necessary to count 4 to 5 months.
The European procedure is also quite fast (4 to 6 months). If you use the Fast Track procedure, it is even possible to obtain publication in a few days. If everything is done according to the rules, it is therefore possible to register your trademark on the Amazon registry 72 hours after filing.
For comparison, it takes 7-8 months in Germany to get the trademark registered and 12-18 months in the US. Canada also has a very long procedure: more than a year for the trademark to be published. If you are in a hurry, there is no better way than filing in the EU or in France.
The Amazon Trademark Registry accessible to small budgets
Filing a trademark has a cost: this varies considerably depending on the Office selected and the number of classes in which protection is sought.
When registering for the Amazon trademark registerIf you are a registered trademark, you must provide a list of the products that are sold under the trademark. This list has an impact on the number of classes indicated at the time of filing.
In France, the cost of a deposit is 190 € for the 1st class (+ 40 € per additional class).
The INPI offers a very economical filing compared to other offices. In the United Kingdom, it costs at least 230 € for the 1st class. In Switzerland, the application covers 3 classes and costs 550 Francs. The United States is also very expensive: 350 USD per class.
The European trademark is less adapted than the INPI to small budgets since it is necessary to count 850 € of filing fee for the 1st class. However, thanks to the SME FUND programIf the project is to be completed within the next two years, it is possible to benefit from a subsidy to reduce the total cost, subject to certain conditions.
The big advantage of French and European registrations is that there are no hidden fees. Once the trademark is registered, there are no more fees to pay until its renewal in 10 years. On the other hand, other fees must be paid in the United States, Japan or Canada.
Filing in France: a perfect value for money for the Amazon trademark register
Therefore, in order to obtain a listing in the Amazon trademark register by benefiting from the best quality-price ratio, and a fast procedure, we recommend you to register the trademark in France.
It is of course possible to file in the European Union for an even faster procedure - but this will be less economical and is not suitable for all budgets.
If you have any questions about the brands or Amazon Brand Registryyou can of course contact our team of specialists.
Update: April 2023