|
|
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
 1. MULTISEARCH®, a Knijff trademark Attorneys service
What does Multisearch® stand for?
MULTISEARCH® stands for a “quality service” available at “fixed turnaround times” and a “competitive price”. MULTISEARCH® is the professional and convenient solution for clearing trademarks in the European Union (EU) and beyond.
What are the advantages of using Multisearch® over our own network of partners?
Working with MULTISEARCH® opens a new world. MULTISEARCH® is a customized product. Therefore, we are used to special wishes from our clients.
You do no longer have to worry about:
- who to contact (one single point of contact for all queries)
- formatting (all reports are presented in a uniform format)
- delivery times (fixed and agreed turnaround times)
- fixed prices (no surprises)
What is the link between Multisearch® and Knijff?
Knijff Trademark Attorneys is the leading provider of professional trademark search services with legal advice throughout Europe and beyond. Our client portfolio includes many top 100 global companies. The firm is based in the Netherlands and started offering the MULTISEARCH® service about 20 years ago.
2. Trademark clearance searching
How do you carry out the trademark searches?
We use different sources depending the type of search requested. Our aim is to use the best source available in each country where we carry out searches. This means that the search reports can come from the local trademark office, a private database or one of the commercial service providers’ databases.
When I order a Multisearch® PRO for France, Germany, Italy, Spain and UK, which databases do you search?
When ordering a MULTISEARCH® PRO for the aforementioned countries, both the specific national databases and the international database designating the countries are searched, as well as the Community trademark database (CTM).
How often are the searched databases updated?
Database updates differ with each register searched. All information with respect to the latest update on the searched databases is included in the final report.
What trademark information of the relevant mark cited do you provide?
For each relevant mark cited in the report we provide you with the full text information. This consists of all information available on the trademark cited, including the name, class, products and services, application/registration number and date plus status information.
3. Additional services
Do the searches include company name and domain name checks?
We do not automatically include company names and domain names in our searches. However, both services can be ordered separately at an additional cost.
Do you also search the pharma-in-use names for searches in class 5 (pharmaceutical products and preparations)?
In case we have to carry out a search in the international class 5 for pharmaceutical products, we also search the INN/WHO database (International Non-Proprietory Names), free of charge.
Furthermore, we can offer a further search (subject to a small charge) of the Pharma-In-Use register, which is owned by IMS. The Pharma-In-Use data provides you with market information for pharmaceutical products in over 60 countries worldwide, regardless of whether the mark has been registered or not. The database contains information with respect to the last sales of a pharmaceutical product bearing a certain trademark, the launch date, the therapeutic class and the owner/distributor. This should allow you to verify whether the mark is in use or not.
Do you verify use of a pertinent mark on the internet?
Yes, this is a standard service. For pertinent marks we automatically check the internet to verify whether the name is in use or not.
4. Legal advice
What is the difference between a local opinion and an overall advice?
A local opinion is provided by an experienced local Trademark Attorney who takes language, local laws on registrability and availability for use, as well as national and international case law into account when preparing his or her advice.
An overall advice is provided by one of the European trademark attorneys of Knijff Trademark Attorneys. It is a summary of all results of the different countries searched with a clear conclusion on registrability and availability for use.
5. Country specific questions
How do you carry out the searches in countries like Bulgaria (Cyrillic) ?
A request for a trademark search in Bulgaria goes via our local Bulgarian Trademark Firm. They file a written request for the search with the Bulgarian Patent Office. The official reports from the Bulgarian Patent Office are prepared within 7 working days but are often subject to delays.
Therefore, in order to meet our clients’ deadlines, our local partner always conducts an initial manual search and sends us a preliminary report. The manual search is conducted in the on-line databases of the Bulgarian Patent Office, in the published Gazettes of the Bulgarian PTO and in databases of WIPO and OHIM.
Once they receive the official report from the Bulgarian Patent Office, our partners send us a final report (allowing for any amendments to the preliminary report).
6. Quality of the reports
How do you monitor the quality of the reports?
We carefully select the attorneys that we work with. We discuss the client’s requirements, provide training and management when necessary and assess their efforts regularly. The same applies to the attorneys within our firm who are involved in the process.
7. Prices and turnaround times
How does your price compare to other service providers that offer similar services?
Unlike some of our competitors, our services are tailored to your specific business needs. Rest assured you will receive a business solution that precisely fits your requirements whilst still delivering value for money.
What is your delivery time?
We deliver our reports in standard delivery times that meet our clients' needs. These are relative to the products ordered. As an example, the turnaround time for a MULTISEARCH® PRO report is 10 working days.
How are reports delivered – on paper or electronically?
Reports can be delivered by electronic mail, by ordinary mail or by special courier. In the last two cases there will be a small sur-charge.
8. Network of partners
Is it possible to instruct the local associates without revealing our company name?
Yes, that is possible. However, we know from experience that, in order to obtain a complete and balanced opinion, it can work to your advantage if our local associates are aware of the clients’ name.
Are you willing to share the trademark attorney’s name who prepared the report?
We do not automatically mention the name of the trademark attorney used on the search report, but we are more than happy to let you know upon request.
We prefer to work with our own agents. Is that possible?
The quality, speed and competitive price of MULTISEARCH® comes from working with our carefully selected network of local associates. However, we are happy to customize our product to meet your specific requirements e.g. working with your preferred trademark attorney
9. Miscellaneous
Can we contact other companies that use your services?
We serve other companies in different industries and upon request we are more than willing to provide you with reference details. |
|
