Sellers who are registered with the TM mark will encounter the following problems: After the TM mark is registered or will be converted into the R mark, should the brand registration be adjusted? How to deal with it? Today, I will give you a peek, and by the way, let’s talk about the difference in concept/filing between the two. (Slide to the end of the article and teach you to receive the "2022 Amazon TM Mark/R Mark Filing Package" for free)

1. If the conversion from TM to R is successful/failed, do I need to re-register?

The TM mark is not a successfully registered trademark, but a trademark in the acceptance period; of course, the TM mark can also be registered as a brand, but the rights and interests are not as complete as the R mark, but are simply used. Therefore, after you use the TM mark for filing, you must continue to pay attention to the subsequent application of the trademark.

Case 1: The TM standard is successfully issued and transferred to the R standard

Rebranding is not required. If you file again, Amazon will prompt "The brand has been registered", but the seller needs to contact the brand team customer service to open a case for confirmation. (Take the US station and the UK station as examples)

US station: Open a case and ask customer service to confirm whether the TM mark is automatically converted to the R mark. If the transfer is not successful, open a case and ask the brand registration support team to upgrade.

UK station: also open a case to ask customer service for confirmation (as shown in the figure below), directly select [technical issue], indicating that the trademark registration status needs to be updated, and provide a scanned copy of the trademark. After 2-3 days, you will receive an email indicating that the brand status has been successfully updated to "registered status".

(Image source: Amazon backstage)

Case 2: TM logo registration failed

If the TM logo registration fails, the TM logo brand registration will remain in this state; will the TM logo registration be revoked? Brand Registry may lapse, which is a big risk. The registration of the TM mark is only a transition period. Only when the registration of the R mark is successful can the brand obtain long-term effective protection.

2. What is the difference between TM standard and R standard filing?

TM mark (Trade Mark): refers to the trademark application filed with the Trademark Office, and the generated TM mark has been accepted. However, receipt of the receipt does not mean that the trademark registration must be successful.

R mark (Registered): Represents that the applicant has obtained the legitimate rights and interests of the trademark. A registered trademark may be marked on the product and its accessories, and others may only use it with permission and authorization.

For example: US trademark registration, after the seller submits the application, the Trademark Office will accept it, the acceptance notice will be issued and a TM mark will be generated, and it will be converted into an R mark only after the publicity period is passed.

(The difference between the TM mark and the R mark)

Similarly, the TM mark and the R mark are also very different in brand filing. The biggest difference is the brand protection function .

(The difference between the TM mark and the R mark brand filing "rights")

It can be seen that brand registration is very beneficial to cross-border sellers . To a certain extent, it can beautify the listing, make the user experience better when purchasing products, and also increase the user's awareness and trust in the brand. At the same time, the R standard filing also has more advanced functions such as anti-counterfeiting and anti-hijacking, which plays a role in protecting the brand.

3. Frequently Asked Questions about Brand Registration

1. TM mark filing, what should I do if I am accused of trademark infringement?

First confirm whether there is infringement. If it is indeed infringing, it is recommended to remove the product from the shelf first, and then appeal. (How to appeal? You can add Maimai WeChat paotenga for consultation~)

2. On the Amazon platform, a trademark can only be registered for one time? Can other stores use this trademark for direct filing?

A trademark can only be registered for one time, and other stores must be registered through brand authorization.

3. Will the seller's account be affected if the filing fails for many times?

No, the filing involves a brand account and will not affect the seller's account; however, if there are many mistakes, Amazon may suspend the application permission.

4. For registered trademarks, should the trademark name be in English or Pinyin?

It will be all right! It is recommended that the brand name should highlight the brand characteristics. These 6 minefields of overseas trademark names are recommended to everyone to read "The first step in trademark registration, how to choose a good name for a trademark? 》

After Amazon opens a store, brand filing is indispensable. If your trademark has not been certified, you can also TM mark for record. The procedures for filing the R mark and the TM mark are different. You can add Maimai WeChat paotenga to get a detailed explanation of the filing pictures and texts, and receive the "2022 Amazon TM Mark/R Mark Filing Package" for free.