Trademark Registration · Serbia & International · Updated October 2026

Protect your brand in Serbia — and beyond

Serbia is a first-to-file country: whoever registers a trademark first holds the rights, regardless of who used the name earlier. We secure your brand at the Serbian Intellectual Property Office, then extend protection across the EU and worldwide — managed end to end.

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  • Serbian trademark protection for 10 years — renewable indefinitely
  • First-to-file: registering early protects you from brand squatters
  • Serbia first, then EU (27 countries) and worldwide via the Madrid System
  • Clearance search, classification, filing, and renewals — handled for you
  • 10 yrsProtection, renewable indefinitely
  • ~6 moTypical Serbian registrationthe Intellectual Property Office decides
  • 27EU countries via one EU filing
  • 130+Countries via the Madrid System
Quick answer

How does trademarking work in Serbia?

A Serbian trademark is registered with the Intellectual Property Office (ZIS). You file the mark against specific classes of goods and services; after examination and publication, it's registered for 10 years and renewable indefinitely. Serbia is not in the EU, so a Serbian trademark protects you in Serbia only — from there, you can extend protection to the EU and worldwide. Most clients start in Serbia and expand outward.

Authority
Intellectual Property Office of Serbia (ZIS).
System
First-to-file — registration beats prior use.
Term
10 years, renewable indefinitely.
Timeline
In recent cases about 6 months has been typical for a straightforward mark. The Intellectual Property Office sets the timing and we don't promise a date.
Scope
Serbia only — extend via EU or Madrid.
Next step
A clearance search and written opinion.

Offices in Novi Sad & Belgrade · Serving clients across all of Serbia

If your passport needs a visa to enter Serbia, check with us first. We ask which passport you'll use before any booking form opens.

  1. Chapter 1 of 7 · Why register in Serbia — why it matters

    In a first-to-file country, waiting is the real risk

    Serbia awards trademark rights to whoever registers first — not whoever used the name first. That makes early registration less of a formality and more of a defensive necessity.

    The squatter problem

    Someone can register your brand

    If a third party registers your brand name in Serbia before you do, they hold the rights — and you may be forced to rebrand, license your own name back, or litigate to recover it.

    A common misconception

    A company name is not a trademark

    Registering your DOO protects the company's legal name in the business registry. It does not give you trademark rights over your brand, logo, or product names — those are a separate registration.

    The expansion trap

    Serbia ≠ the EU

    A Serbian trademark stops at the Serbian border. If you sell into the EU or globally, you need separate EU or international protection — best secured before you scale, not after a conflict.

    Who this is for

    Who registers a Serbian trademark

    Founders who just formed a company

    You've registered a Serbian DOO and built a brand around it. Registering your DOO protected the legal name — a trademark protects the brand itself. The cleanest moment to file is right after formation.

    Foreign companies entering Serbia

    You're expanding into the Serbian or regional market and need to secure your existing brand locally before launch — and before a competitor or squatter does it for you.

    Online & e-commerce businesses

    You sell across borders and need a registered mark to enforce against copycats, qualify for marketplace brand-protection programmes, and license or franchise with confidence.

    Diaspora & personal brands

    You're building a name — a studio, a product line, a personal brand — and want to anchor the rights in Serbia, then extend protection as your audience grows internationally.

  2. What we manage

    From clearance to renewal — handled end to end

    Trademarking is part strategy, part procedure. We manage both, so your brand is protected correctly the first time.

  3. Chapter 2 of 7 · Clearance search first

    Clearance search & written opinion

    Week 1 · before filing — our work

    We confirm what you want to protect, run a clearance search for conflicts, and advise honestly on the strength of your mark before you commit to filing.

    01

    Clearance search

    We search the Serbian register (and relevant international databases) for conflicting marks before you file — so you don't invest in a name that's already taken.

    Clearance Search & Written Opinion — €149. A clearance search and written opinion is quoted after the €49 Roadmap. Start with the €49 Roadmap

  4. Chapter 3 of 7 · Classes

    Nice classes: what your mark covers

    Every trademark is filed for chosen classes of goods and services. The classes set what your mark protects — and what the filing costs.

    02

    Class strategy

    We identify the right Nice classes for your goods and services — broad enough to protect you, precise enough to avoid objections and non-use vulnerability.

    Classes
    Where

    Serbian Trademark · €795 + ~€220 official ZIS fee. Up to 3 classes: search, classification, filing & prosecution.

    Official government fees are approximate, paid at cost with no markup, and confirmed before filing.

    Pick the number of classes and where you need protection — the plate on the right stacks your classes and shows the matching line from our pricing page. All prices →

  5. Chapter 4 of 7 · The process: filing → publication → opposition → registration

    From idea to registered mark

    From filing onward, every date below is a typical range, not a promise — the Intellectual Property Office decides.

    Classification & application

    Week 1–2 · our work, up to filing

    We select the correct Nice classes, prepare the application and any required power of attorney, and file with the Serbian Intellectual Property Office.

    03

    Application & filing

    We prepare and file the application, typically in the name of your Serbian company, and manage the prosecution through to registration.

  6. Chapter 4 · Examination

    Examination

    Typically months 1–4 · the Intellectual Property Office sets the timing

    The Office examines the mark on absolute grounds. We respond to any objections and manage the file throughout the review.

    04

    Examination support

    If the examiner raises objections or a third party files observations, we manage the response and keep your application moving.

  7. Chapter 4 · Publication & opposition

    Publication

    Typically months 3–5 · the Intellectual Property Office sets the timing

    The accepted mark is published in the Intellectual Property Gazette, opening a window in which third parties may raise objections.

  8. Chapter 4 · Registration

    Registration & certificate

    Typically around month 6 · the Intellectual Property Office sets the timing

    The trademark is registered, your certificate issues, and 10-year protection begins. From here we can extend to the EU and internationally.

  9. Chapter 5 of 7 · Renewal and protection — your protection options

    Three layers of brand protection

    Most clients begin with a Serbian registration and extend outward as they grow. Each layer builds on the one before it.

    ★ Start here

    Serbian trademark

    Serbia · via ZIS

    Your foundation. Exclusive rights to your mark in Serbia, and the legal base from which international protection is extended through the Madrid System.

    Scope
    Serbia
    Term
    10 yrs, renewable
    Timeline
    Recently ~6 months · the IP Office sets the timing, no date promised

    EU trademark

    27 countries · via EUIPO

    One filing covering all 27 EU member states — the efficient route if you sell into, or plan to expand into, the European Union. (The UK is separate since Brexit.)

    Scope
    EU (27)
    Term
    10 yrs, renewable
    Official fee
    From €850 (first class)

    International (Madrid)

    ~130 countries · via WIPO

    The WIPO Madrid System extends your Serbian mark to dozens of countries through a single application — managed centrally, country by country, as your markets grow.

    Scope
    Up to ~130
    Base
    Serbian filing
    Management
    One portfolio
    05

    International extension

    When you're ready, we coordinate EU (EUIPO) and worldwide (Madrid) filings with qualified representatives, building on your Serbian base.

    06

    Renewals & monitoring

    We track your renewal deadlines and can monitor for conflicting later filings — a registration runs 10 years and can be renewed, and infringers don't slip through.

Mark file · RSStage

  1. 01Clearance search & risk check
  2. 02Nice classes selected
  3. 03Application filed · ZIS
  4. 04Examination & publication
  5. 05Registered ®
  6. 06EU / Madrid extension
Classes
Where

Serbian Trademark · €795 + ~€220 official ZIS fee. Up to 3 classes: search, classification, filing & prosecution.

Chapter 6 of 7 · Trademark registration — pricing

What it costs to protect your brand.

Our service fee, shown separately from the official government filing fee — which we pass through to you at cost, with no markup.

Serbian Trademark

€795

+ ~€220 official ZIS fee

Up to 3 classes

  • Clearance search of the Serbian register
  • Nice class selection & filing strategy
  • Application prepared & filed with ZIS
  • Full prosecution through to registration
  • Examiner-objection handling

Additional class: €150 + ~€37 official fee.

EU Trademark (EUIPO)

from €695

+ official EUIPO fees. EUIPO fees start at €850 for one class; each extra class costs more

  • One filing covering all 27 EU member states
  • Built on your Serbian base
  • Classification & filing managed end to end
  • Coordinated with qualified EU representatives

International (Madrid · WIPO)

from €995

+ official fees, priced per country

  • Extend your mark to the countries you select
  • One single, centrally-managed application
  • Country-by-country coordination
  • One portfolio, managed as you grow
Clearance Search & Written OpinionConflict search + written opinion on your mark’s strength; credited toward filingStart with the €49 Roadmap
€149
Renewal (every 10 years), up to 3 classesKeeps your registration active
€295+ ~€365 official fee
Trademark MonitoringAnnual watch for conflicting later filings
€249/year

Official government and international fees are approximate, paid on your behalf at cost, and confirmed before filing — we don't mark them up. Madrid (international) fees depend on which countries you select. We can't promise registration or rule out third-party opposition — every mark is examined on its merits.

Full details on the pricing page → · All corporate services

What we don't promise

Straight talk before you file

Trademarking has genuine uncertainty in it. We'd rather set the right expectations now than oversell you.

  • We can't promise registration. The examiner assesses every mark, and descriptive or generic names can be refused. We tell you honestly how strong your mark is before you file — not after.
  • We can't rule out opposition. After publication, third parties with earlier rights can object. A clearance search reduces this risk substantially, but it cannot eliminate it.
  • A trademark only protects where it's registered. A Serbian mark does not cover the EU, the UK, or anywhere else — protection is territorial, and expansion is a separate filing.
  • Registration is not the finish line. A mark you don't use can be cancelled for non-use, typically after five years — so the strategy has to match real commercial activity.

This page is general information about trademark registration in Serbia and internationally, not legal advice. Trademark registrability, representation requirements, and enforcement depend on your specific circumstances and are assessed case by case. Where formal representation before an intellectual property office is legally required, it is provided by appropriately qualified representatives.

Chapter 7 of 7 · Start

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A clearance search and written opinion is quoted after the €49 Roadmap.

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Questions

Trademark registration FAQ

Do I need a trademark if I've already registered my company?

Yes — they're different protections. Registering your Serbian DOO secures the company's legal name in the business registry, but it gives you no trademark rights over your brand name, logo, or product names. Anyone could register your brand as a trademark and gain exclusive rights to it. If your brand has commercial value, the company registration and the trademark are two separate, complementary steps.

How long does a Serbian trademark last?

A registered Serbian trademark is protected for 10 years from the filing date and can be renewed indefinitely in further 10-year periods. We track your renewal deadlines; a registration runs 10 years and can be renewed — a single missed renewal can open your brand to others.

How long does registration take?

For a straightforward Serbian trademark, in recent cases around six months from filing to registration has been typical, through examination, publication, and registration. The Intellectual Property Office sets the timing and we don't promise a date. Marks that attract examiner objections or third-party observations take longer. We give you a realistic estimate after the clearance search.

Can a foreigner register a trademark in Serbia?

Yes. Foreign individuals and companies can hold Serbian trademarks. Applicants without a domicile or registered seat in Serbia must be represented by a representative from the Office's official register. A common and efficient route for our clients is to file the mark in the name of their Serbian company — which has a Serbian seat — alongside, or shortly after, company formation. We'll advise the right structure for your situation.

Does my Serbian trademark protect me in the EU?

No. Serbia is not an EU member, so a Serbian trademark protects you in Serbia only. To protect your brand across the European Union, you file an EU trademark with the EUIPO — one application covering all 27 member states (the UK is separate since Brexit). We can extend your protection to the EU and, via the WIPO Madrid System, to dozens of other countries from your Serbian base.

What's the difference between a Serbian, EU, and international trademark?

It's about territory. A Serbian trademark (via ZIS) covers Serbia. An EU trademark (via EUIPO) covers all 27 EU states in one filing. An international registration (via the WIPO Madrid System) lets you extend a base trademark to up to roughly 130 countries through a single, centrally managed application. Most clients start in Serbia and add the EU and other countries as they expand.

Do I have to use the trademark to keep it?

You don't need to be using the mark to file or register it. However, once registered, a trademark that goes unused can become vulnerable to cancellation for non-use, typically after five years. This is why we align your classes and filing strategy with your real or planned commercial activity, rather than registering broadly for its own sake.

Can you promise my trademark will be registered?

No honest provider can. The Intellectual Property Office examines every application, and marks that are descriptive, generic, or conflict with earlier rights can be refused or opposed. What we do is assess the strength of your mark and run a clearance search before you file, so you go in with a realistic view — and we tell you plainly if a mark is too weak to be worth the investment.

Protect what you're building

Secure your brand before someone else does

A clearance search and written opinion is quoted after the €49 Roadmap. We'll run a clearance search, tell you honestly how strong your mark is, and map your protection — Serbia first, then the EU and beyond.

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We do not promise any registration, opposition, renewal or enforcement outcome, or any date — we control our own preparation and filings; the Intellectual Property Office decides. The registered address we offer is in Novi Sad (Laze Telečkog 6). Services in Serbia are delivered by Globalna Poslovna Rešenja DOO, Novi Sad, under agreement with Helion Global Group LLC. Read our privacy notice.