The short answer
A move or name change by the same owner normally does not require a new trademark application. The register details should be updated. If the legal person changes, however, this is more than a new address or label. You need to assess whether an assignment takes place and what evidence the change requires.
Identify whether the legal owner stays the same
Compare the current trademark entry with the company’s legal documents. Does the same legal entity continue under a different name or address? Or should a different company or individual now own the mark? That distinction determines the change to request and the supporting documents to prepare before submitting it.
Do not assume that an amendment to the commercial register automatically corrects every trademark entry. The IPI provides its own procedures for register changes. Gather the registration number, existing details, new information and responsible contact. If you hold several trademarks, identify which registrations are actually affected by the change.
Sources: IPI: updating a trademark register entry · Fedlex: Trade Mark Protection Act, Article 17
Treat a different owner as an assignment
Article 17 of the Trade Mark Protection Act permits assignment for all or some of the claimed goods and services. An assignment must be in writing to be valid. It takes effect against third parties acting in good faith only after entry in the register. A verbal arrangement alone is therefore not a reliable basis for updating ownership.
If a mark should move from you personally to your limited company, assess it as a change of legal owner. A business sale likewise requires careful identification of the rights concerned. The Act contains a rule on transfer with a business; the actual agreement and any contrary terms need to be considered. Clarify signatures and supporting evidence before submission.
Sources: Fedlex: Trade Mark Protection Act, Article 17 · IPI: updating a trademark register entry
Separate administrative details from the trademark itself
A new company name does not automatically change the registered sign. The IPI explains that the registered trademark itself cannot simply be replaced. Extending the goods and services is not an ordinary register correction either. A new version of the mark or additional offers may therefore require another application.
After processing, check the register extract and update your internal trademark overview. Refresh responsibility for official correspondence and renewals. Foreign or international rights may have their own amendment procedures. A change recorded by the IPI should therefore not be assumed to update all registrations around the world without further checking.
What you can do now
- Establish whether the same legal person remains the owner.
- Prepare written assignment documents and registration where ownership changes.
- Check the sign, contact details and affected registers after the update.
Frequently asked questions
Can I replace the logo when updating my address?
An address amendment does not allow replacement of the protected sign. Assess a revised logo separately; updating the owner’s details does not determine its protection needs.
Should an assignment appear in the register?
Article 17 links its effect against good-faith third parties to registration. Practical administration also supports a prompt update. The requirement that the assignment be in writing remains separate.