In Israel, rights to a trademark are granted to the person or company that first uses it in the territory. Even though registration is not mandatory, in practice it is highly recommended, because it helps to:
- Clearly demonstrate ownership of the trademark,
- Prevent future conflicts about who owns the mark, and
- More effectively defend against trademark infringement.
Trademark applications in Israel are filed with the Trademark department of the Israel Patent Office IPO.
Israel is also a member state of the Madrid Protocol, so it is possible to extend an international registration to Israel via the Madrid System. We offer services for trademark filing through the Madrid System.
A trademark does not have to be in use in Israel in order to be registered. However, prior use may be very helpful, as it can serve to overcome objections based on lack of distinctiveness by proving that the mark has acquired distinctiveness through use.
If you register a combined trademark (including both word and figurative elements), your exclusive right to use the mark is limited to the exact configuration in which it was filed and registered. If you wish to use the word element separately from the logo (or vice versa), it is advisable to file a separate trademark for the elements you want to protect individually.
If you would like the figurative or design elements of your trademark to be considered in a Trademark Search Report for Israel, you should contact us directly so we can determine whether we can offer this in this jurisdiction; in such cases, prices and delivery times may vary.