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Register my trademark now

You want people to steal your heart, not your brand name.

As an entrepreneur you invest in your business and come up with a name and logo. Business is booming and your customers are happy. But have you considered that other entrepreneurs notice your success and could take advantage of your fame and popularity?

As you are busy with many things, you might not realise that your brand, your name and logo, are not automatically your property. You still need to do something for that.

That is why we are launching a campaign to inform entrepreneurs within the Dutch Caribbean about this. About how to register your brand, so you can prevent someone else from stealing your brand name.

Register my trademark now

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CaribIE, trademark registration in
Bonaire/St. Eustatius/Saba

With the Benelux Office for Intellectual Property (BOIP)
As instructed by the National Office for the Caribbean Netherlands

Your hospitality business is a success. You are getting great reviews. The time, energy and money that you have invested in your business are paying off. You’re building up a good name, thereby creating value. That value resides in the name of your company, the name of your service or in the logo. Perhaps in all three. You don't want a third party to hitch a free ride on the back of your efforts.

Registering your trademark

A trademark is a name, logo, shape, image or sound that you use to distinguish your products or services from those of your competitors. By registering your trademark, you secure the exclusive right to use it for all the products and services you request. More about trademarks

Your sailing school is getting good recognition from travel agencies and event organisers. Your clients are delighted with the quality. The time, energy and money that you have invested in your business are paying off. You’re building up a good name, thereby creating value. That value resides in the name of your company, the name of your service or in the logo. Perhaps in all three. You don't want a third party to hitch a free ride on the back of your efforts.

Registering your trademark

A trademark is a name, logo, shape, image or sound that you use to distinguish your products or services from those of your competitors. By registering your trademark, you secure the exclusive right to use it for all the products and services you request. More about trademarks

You have a reputation amongst your clients for being reliable and accurate. Your order book is filling up ever faster. The time, energy and money that you have invested in your business are paying off. You’re building up a good name, thereby creating value. That value resides in the name of your company, the name of your service or in the logo. Perhaps in all three. You don't want a third party to hitch a free ride on the back of your efforts.

Registering your trademark

A trademark is a name, logo, shape, image or sound that you use to distinguish your products or services from those of your competitors. By registering your trademark, you secure the exclusive right to use it for all the products and services you request. More about trademarks

You’ve delivered a number of well-executed projects to satisfied customers, and the next quotations are ready to go. The time, energy and money that you have invested in your business are paying off. You’re building up a good name, thereby creating value. That value resides in the name of your company, the name of your service or in the logo. Perhaps in all three. You don't want a third party to hitch a free ride on the back of your efforts.

Registering your trademark

A trademark is a name, logo, shape, image or sound that you use to distinguish your products or services from those of your competitors. By registering your trademark, you secure the exclusive right to use it for all the products and services you request. More about trademarks

You are gaining notoriety as a designer, and demand for your work is growing. The time, energy and money that you have invested in your business are paying off. You’re building up a good name, thereby creating value. That value resides in the name of your company, the name of your service or in the logo. Perhaps in all three. You don't want a third party to hitch a free ride on the back of your efforts.

Registering your trademark

A trademark is a name, logo, shape, image or sound that you use to distinguish your products or services from those of your competitors. By registering your trademark, you secure the exclusive right to use it for all the products and services you request. More about trademarks

What is a trademark?

As an entrepreneur, naturally, you do your best to position your products or services optimally in the market. You use your brand, i.e. trademark, to achieve name recognition and to promote the unique selling points of your offering. A trademark is, indeed, a great tool to do just that.

Your trademark is effective and so deserves protection. You don't want your competitors to simply copy it or use it without your consent! Once you have officially registered your trademark it is protected by law and competitors will not be able to piggy-back on your success gratuitously.

More about trademarks

Why opt to register your trademark?

Monopoly on the trademark
Registering secures your exclusive right to use the trademark to promote the goods and services covered by the registration.
Sign of professionalism
You can leverage your trademark registration by using the ® mark. It conveys professionalism and will inspire confidence in your clients.

More about the benefits

What is intellectual property?

Caribie three islands

Intellectual Property (IP) is an umbrella term for legal rights to ideas and creative concepts that have been translated into a tangible form, such as designs, inventions, music, brands, software, games, texts and photos.

Are you an entrepreneur with an idea or concept that you have transformed into something tangible that you want to market? If so, you can protect your creations by applying for intellectual property (IP) rights. There are different types of intellectual property rights. You can use them separately or in combination. The choice you make will depend on various factors.

Frequently asked questions

Can I patent my name?

No, that is not possible. Patents are only granted for technical inventions. You can, however, protect a name, such as the name of your company or goods and services, under trademark law. Trademark law is different to patent law. To protect your name (as brand), you can apply to register it as a trademark.

Do I have a trademark?

If you use your trade name, for instance, as a logo or on social media, to promote your products or services, you are, in fact, using your trade name as a trademark. A trademark is a sign used to differentiate a company’s products and services from those of others.

Do I own a trademark?

Lots of entrepreneurs register their trade name with the Chamber of Commerce, and also register a domain name. That does not, however, make you the owner of a trademark or logo in the eyes of the law. Only when you register your trademark officially do you become its legal owner. It is therefore prudent to register your trade name or logo as a trademark too.

How much does trademark registration cost?

The basic fee, for up to three classes, is 310 USD for an individual trademark. There can be additional costs depending on the goods and services for which you claim protection. Check the current rates

I have registered my trademark. Can I use the ®sign now?

Once your trademark has been registered, you can use the ®sign to promote it. This looks professional and inspires confidence in your customers. There is, however, no law prohibiting use of the ®sign with non-registered trademarks. The fact that a trademark bears the ®sign does not necessarily mean that it is actually registered. You can check whether a trademark is registered in the Caribbean Netherlands Trademarks Register, the official place of publication for registered trademarks.

More FAQs