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Trade name, brand, logo, sign, domain name: what differences?

Verified 01 January 2023 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

A company needs to be identified for distinguish and to be public view. The trade name, sign, logo, brand and domain name do not have the same status. Before to use them check if they available, if they are not already used by another company. Otherwise they could be challenged by competitors.

If you're a merchant, we're talking about names commercial.

If you're a craftsman or a liberal, we call it professional.

Communication tool

It's a tool for communication.

It optional. It is advisable to choose one.

You free to choose it. This could be your last name, a pseudonym, or any other term that was invented.

Please note

The trade name can be mentioned at RNE: titleContent and RCS: titleContent.

What's it for?

It serves identify your activity and your products on the market with your customers and competitors.

You use it when you presentation pitch to the banks and funders of your project.

Your business or trade name is on your business cards, your company header paper, contracts, quotes and invoices (in addition to mandatory).

Multiple shapes

The trade name or business name can take the following forms:

  • Mark your product or activity
  • Signboard of a store or premises
  • Logo
  • Domain name of your website

But it can also be different and add to a sign, a logo, etc.

Check availability

Before choosing a business or trade name, it is best to verify that it has not already been taken by another contractor.

To check availability, you can free the database of theInpi: titleContent.

It provides access to corporate names, trade names and signs registered in the RNE: titleContent and RCS: titleContent.

Find a company registration voucher

How to protect it?

You become owner of the trade or professional name from its 1re use in a document (prospectus, advertisements, invoices, etc.).

Definition

All that identify your product or your company visible can become brand.

Example :

The name, slogan, logo your product or company can become a brand.

What's it for?

Your brand is used to identify your activity and you differentiate from competitors.

It must therefore be easily understandable by the greatest number.

It should not lead to confusion or prejudice.

How to protect it?

The name, slogan or logo of your product or company must be registered with theInpi: titleContent.

Your trademark is protected for 10 years.

The cost of filing a trademark depends on the number of items you want to protect. Count Between €50 and €300.

You must proceed 2 steps ::

  1. Check the availability of the
  2. Drop your brand

The 2 steps are done at theInpi: titleContent.

1 - You check the availability of your brand (name, logo, etc.) with the following search tool:

Check availability of a brand, logo, domain name

2 - You can leave your mark thanks to online service next:

Drop a Brand Online

Definition

A commercial sign is a inscription, shape, image or logo.

It is placed on a building (shop, shop) or on a lot.

It symbolises and denotes the professional activity you perform in this place.

What's it for?

It allows customers identify your commercial premises.

It must respect location and permission rules.

How to protect it?

A sign may be protected either as brand or drawing (2D) or model (3D).

Brand

It is protected for 10 years.

The cost of filing your sign depends on the number of items you want to protect. You have to count between €50 and €300.

You must proceed 2 steps ::

  1. Check the availability of the sign
  2. Drop your brand

The 2 steps are done at theInpi: titleContent.

1 - You check the availability of your sign by the following search tool:

Check availability of a brand, logo, domain name

2 - You can place your sign as a brand thanks to online service next:

Drop a Brand Online

Drawing (2D) or Model (3D)

The deposit cost is €70.

Hard protection 5 years.

You must first check if your drawing or template does not already exist.

Availability of a drawing or model

You have to online filing of your design with the following service:

Drop a drawing or template online

Definition

Do you want to create a website to sell products or services online or to advertise your activity?

The domain name is the name that identifies your website.

It allows localisation and access to pages of this website by the Internet users. For this you must reserve a domain name.

How to protect it?

The next explains how to protect your website name.

To small and medium-sized and micro-entreprises, do you have a business project, a difficulty or a question ?

Quick and simple public service: you will be contacted over the phone by one of our experts.

Speak with an advisor on Place des Entreprises