Attorney
Specializes in protection of honor and dignity, of copyrights, inventions, patents, trademarks, support of tenders, protection of consumer rights, disputes with insurance companies, legal support in cases of administrative offenses.
Trademark Registration for IT Projects and Startups
In the IT and technology sector, the speed of launching a product often significantly outpaces the legal registration of the brand. Startups actively develop software solutions, launch mobile applications, create SaaS platforms and online services, but often postpone the issue of trademark registration.
Such an approach can create serious risks for a business, since the brand is one of the key assets of any technological project.
Why a Startup Needs Trademark Registration
Trademark registration allows you to legally secure the right to use the name of an IT product, a logo, or the name of a platform or service.
After obtaining the certificate, the trademark owner receives:
- the exclusive right to use the brand in their business activities
- the right to prohibit its use by other parties
This is especially important for startups planning to scale, attract investors, or enter international markets.
What Can Be Registered as a Trademark
For IT projects, trademarks may include the names of software products, mobile applications, online platforms, marketplaces, digital services, crypto projects, as well as logos, slogans, and other brand elements.
Trademark registration protects not only the name of the product itself but also the commercial reputation of the project.
Nice Classes for IT Projects
In most cases, IT projects use Nice Classification classes related to software, digital services, and technological solutions.
Most commonly these are:
- Class 9 — software, mobile applications, digital products
- Class 42 — software development, technology services, SaaS solutions, cloud services
- Class 35 — online marketplaces, e-commerce, advertising platforms
Choosing the correct classes is critically important for future brand protection.
Risks for Startups Without Trademark Registration
It is also important to consider that in the IT industry product names are often used as domain names or mobile application titles. If a brand is not registered as a trademark, another company may register a similar or identical name and obtain legal grounds to demand that you stop using it.
In intellectual property practice, such situations occur quite frequently, especially in the technology startup sector.
Why Investors Pay Attention to Trademarks
In addition, having a registered trademark increases the investment attractiveness of a startup. Investors, venture funds, and partners pay attention to the legal clarity of a brand because intellectual property rights are an important asset of a company.
A registered trademark may be contributed to the company’s charter capital, transferred under a licensing agreement, or used as part of investment deals.
International Brand Protection for IT Projects
Another important aspect is the international development of IT projects. Many startups focus on the global market, so brand protection may be required not only in Ukraine but also in the European Union, the United Kingdom, or the United States.
Registering a trademark at an early stage helps avoid conflicts with other brands and provides a legal foundation for international expansion.
How the Trademark Registration Procedure Works
The trademark registration procedure includes a preliminary analysis of the brand, checking for identical or similar registered marks, determining the relevant Nice classes, preparing and filing the application, and supporting the examination process at the Ukrainian National Office for Intellectual Property and Innovations.
Proper document preparation and a strategic approach to the application significantly reduce the risk of receiving a preliminary refusal.
Legal Support for Trademark Registration
The law firm “Prikhodko and Partners” provides full legal support for trademark registration for IT projects, startups, technology companies, and digital platforms.
The firm’s lawyers help conduct professional trademark searches in databases, develop a brand protection strategy, correctly determine Nice classes, and support the registration procedure until the certificate is obtained.
Timely trademark registration allows a startup not only to protect its brand but also to create a strong legal foundation for business development, attracting investment, and scaling the product on the international market.
Calculate the cost of services
1 question
Does your IT project have its own name or brand?
2 question
Are you using this name for a mobile app, SaaS service or online platform?
3 question
Are you planning to scale the project or attract investors?
You may also need:
Trademark check for novelty (plagiarism)
Read moreInternational trademark registration
Read moreLegal support for continuation of the line of this trademark
Read moreA claim of improper use of a trademark
Read moreAppealing a refusal to register a trademark in Ukraine
Read moreAccelerated trademark registration in Ukraine
Read moreAgreement on the transfer of ownership of a trademark
Read moreLegal protection of the trademark
Read moreInvalidation of a trademark certificate
Read morecall back
during the day

