July sets new record for Icelandic trademark applications

The Icelandic Intellectual Property Office received a record number of trademark applications in July, with 90 applications submitted in total. Nearly eight thousand Icelandic trademarks are now registered in the country, more than ever before.

The Office has also significantly shortened its processing times. A decision is now commonly reached within a few days, compared to several weeks previously. This is due partly to the Intellectual Property Gazette, where registered trademarks and other intellectual property rights are made available to the public, now being published weekly rather than monthly. A new examination system, which among other things uses artificial intelligence to support the assessment of trademark registrability, has also contributed to shorter processing times. With shorter processing times, applicants learn sooner whether their trademarks meet the requirements for registration, giving them more lead time and certainty in planning their marketing and other operations.

"This is a very pleasing development that reflects the growing awareness among Icelandic companies of the importance of protecting the value embedded in their trademarks, whether that involves company names, product names, logos, or slogans," says Borghildur Erlingsdóttir, Director General of the Icelandic Intellectual Property Office. "We want to make sure our processing keeps pace with this growing interest, and we've not only managed that, we've exceeded it."