232.111 — TmPO
English is not an official language of the Swiss Confederation. This translation is provided for information purposes only and has no legal force.
of 23 December 1992 (Status as of 1 July 2025)
The Swiss Federal Council,
on the basis of Articles 35 c , 38 paragraph 2, 39 paragraph 3, 50 paragraphs 1 and 2, 50 d paragraph 2 and 50 e paragraph 7 of the Trade Mark Protection Act of
28 August 1992 1 (TmPA)
and on Article 13 of the Federal Act of 24 March 1995 2 on the Status and Tasks of the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property, 3
ordains:
The Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property (IPI) is responsible for carrying out the administrative duties stipulated in the TmPA and for implementing this Ordinance 4 . 5
Excluded from this are Articles 70–72 TmPA and Articles 54–57 of this Ordinance. The Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (FOCBS) 6 is responsible for their implementation.
If a time limit is calculated in months or years, it shall end in the final month on the same date of the month as the date on which it started. If there is no such date, the time limit ends on the final day of the final month.
Submissions to the IPI must be written in an official language of the Confederation. The foregoing is without prejudice to Articles 47 paragraph 3 and 52 p paragraph 3. 8
Where official documents of evidence are not written in an official language, the IPI may request a translation and a certificate confirming its accuracy; the foregoing is without prejudice to Article 14 paragraph 3. If the translation or certificate is not submitted despite being requested, the document of evidence will not be taken into account.
Where several persons apply to register a trade mark or hold the right to a trade mark, they must either designate one of them to whom the IPI may send all communications with effect for all of them, or they must appoint a joint representative.
If neither of these conditions have been met, the IPI shall designate a recipient in accordance with paragraph 1. If one of the other persons objects, the IPI shall request that all parties act in accordance with paragraph 1.
Paragraphs 1 and 2 also apply to applications for international registration in accordance with Articles 50 d und 50 e TmPA. 10
If the contested intellectual property right is transferred during the course of pending proceedings, Article 83 of the Civil Procedure Code 12 applies by analogy.
If an applicant or proprietor is represented before the IPI, the IPI may request a written power of attorney.
Any person who has been authorised by the applicant or proprietor to submit declarations provided for in the TmPA or in this Ordinance to the IPI and to receive communications from the IPI on their behalf shall be entered in the Register as a representative in accordance with Article 40. If the IPI is not explicitly notified of any restriction to the power of attorney, it is deemed comprehensive.
Submissions must be signed.
If a valid signature is missing from a submission, the original date on which it was submitted shall be recognised provided that a signed submission identical in content is subsequently submitted within one month of a request from the IPI.
The application for registration does not have to be signed. The IPI may designate other documents that do not require a signature.
The IPI may request proof where it has reasonable doubt concerning the accuracy of a submission.
The IPI shall disclose the reasons for its doubt, provide an opportunity to respond, and set a time limit for the submission of proof.
For fees which must be paid in accordance with the TmPA or this Ordinance, the IPI Fee Ordinance of 14 June 2016 17 (IPI-FeeO) applies.
The IPI may authorise electronic communication.
It shall determine the technical details and publish them in an appropriate manner. 19
A form approved by the IPI or a form from the Regulations under the Singapore Treaty on the Law of Trademarks of 27 March 2006 20 must be used to file the application. 21
If an application that is otherwise formally valid contains all the information required, the IPI may waive the requirement to submit the form. 22
The filing date for an application for registration under Article 46 a TmPA shall be the date of the corresponding international registration or of the extension of protection to Switzerland.
The application for registration shall include:
The following must be included in the application where applicable:
The trade mark must be capable of being represented graphically. The IPI may accept other forms of representation for special types of trade mark. 32
If a colour is claimed for the trade mark, the corresponding colour or combination of colours must be specified. The IPI may additionally request the submission of coloured representations of the trade mark.
If it concerns a special type of trade mark, for example a three-dimensional sign, this must be stated in the application for registration.
The goods and services for which the trade mark is claimed must be precisely named and the class number under the Nice Agreement of 15 June 1957 34 concerning the International Classification of Goods and Services (The Nice Classification) must be provided.
The declaration of priority within the meaning of the Paris Convention of 20 March 188335 for the Protection of Industrial Property shall include the following information:
The priority document consists of a certificate of the first filing from the competent authority indicating the filing or registration number of the trade mark.
... 36
The declaration of exhibition priority shall include:
The priority document consists of a certificate from the competent authority certifying that the goods or services bearing the trade mark were exhibited and indicating the opening date of the exhibition.
The declaration of priority must be submitted no later than 30 days after the filing of the trade mark. If the IPI requests a priority document, the applicant must submit it within six months after the filing. If the applicant does not submit the requested documents, the claim to priority shall lapse. 37
The declaration of priority may relate to multiple first filings.
Priority documents may also be submitted in English.
For postal items, the submission date is the date on which the item is given to the Swiss Post to be delivered to the IPI.
If the filing does not meet the requirements of Article 28 paragraph 2 TmPA, the IPI may set a time limit for the applicant to complete the documentation.
If the filing does not fulfil the formal requirements laid down in the TmPA or in this Ordinance, the IPI shall set a time limit for the applicant to remedy the deficiency.
If the deficiency is not remedied within the time limit, the IPI shall refuse the application for registration in its entirety or in part. The IPI may set further time limits in exceptional cases.
If there are grounds for refusal as defined in Article 30 paragraph 2 letters c–e of the TmPA, the IPI shall set a time limit for the applicant to remedy the deficiency.
If an application is submitted for a foreign wine denomination to be registered as a geographical mark, the IPI shall consult the Federal Office for Agriculture. It shall examine whether the particular requirements for the foreign wine denomination, laid down in the wine legislation, are fulfilled.
If the deficiency is not remedied within the time limit, the IPI shall refuse the application for registration in its entirety or in part. The IPI may set further time limits in exceptional cases.
For the further processing of an application which was refused due to failure to observe a time limit (Art. 41 TmPA), a further processing fee must be paid.
The applicant must pay the filing fee within the time limit set by the IPI.
If the list of goods or services of the filed trade mark includes more than three classes, the applicant must pay a surcharge for each additional class. The IPI shall determine the number of classes subject to a surcharge in accordance with the list of classes under the Nice Agreement 42 .
The class surcharge must be paid within the time limit set by the IPI.
The applicant may request an accelerated examination.
The request shall not be considered to have been filed until the fee for an accelerated examination has been paid in addition to the filing fee. 44
If there are no grounds for refusal, the IPI shall register the trade mark in the Trade Mark Register and publish the registration.
It will provide the proprietor of the trade mark with a confirmation of the registration. The confirmation shall include the information entered in the Register. 45
The opposition must be submitted in two copies and must include:
If an opposing party who is required under Article 42 TmPA to indicate an address for service in Switzerland does not provide this when filing the opposition, the IPI shall set a grace period. The IPI shall also inform the opposing party that failure to comply before expiry of the grace period will result in the dismissal of the opposition.
A defendant who must indicate an address for service in Switzerland must provide this within the time limit set by the IPI. The IPI shall inform the defendant that they will be excluded from the proceedings if they fail to fulfil this obligation.
The IPI shall bring any opposition that is not manifestly inadmissible to the attention of the defendant and shall set a time limit for response.
The defendant must submit two copies of the response.
In the defendant’s first response, the defendant must invoke any non-use of the opposing party’s trade mark in accordance with Article 12 paragraph 1 TmPA; however, this is only permitted if, at that time, an uninterrupted period of five years has elapsed following the expiry of the opposition period with no opposition having been filed, or upon conclusion of the opposition proceedings. 48
The IPI may enter into further exchanges of written submissions.
If multiple oppositions are submitted against the same trade mark registration, the IPI shall bring the oppositions to the attention of all opposing parties. It may combine the handling of the oppositions in one procedure.
If the IPI deems it necessary, it may first examine one of the multiple oppositions, make a decision on it and suspend the other opposition proceedings. 50
Where the opposition is based on the filing of a trade mark application, the IPI may suspend opposition proceedings until the trade mark is registered. 51
The IPI may suspend opposition proceedings if the decision on the opposition depends on the outcome of cancellation proceedings on the grounds of non-use, civil proceedings or other proceedings. 52
If an opposition is not submitted within the time limit or if the opposition fee is not paid on time, the opposition shall be considered not to have been filed. No costs shall be incurred; any opposition fee that has already been paid shall be reimbursed.
If a proceeding becomes groundless or is settled or withdrawn, half of the opposition fee shall be reimbursed.
The request for cancellation of a trade mark registration on the grounds of non-use of the trade mark must be submitted in two copies and must include:
If an applicant who is required under Article 42 TmPA to indicate an address for service in Switzerland does not provide this when filing the request, the IPI shall grant a grace period. The IPI shall also inform the applicant that failure to comply before expiry of the grace period will result in dismissal of the request.
A defendant who must indicate an address for service in Switzerland must provide this within the time limit set by the IPI. The IPI shall inform the defendant that the defendant will be excluded from the proceedings if the defendant fails to fulfil this obligation.
The IPI shall bring any request for cancellation that is not manifestly inadmissible to the attention of the defendant and shall set a time limit for response.
The defendant must submit two copies of the response.
In their response, the defendant must substantiate, in particular, the use of the trade mark or proper reasons for its non-use.
The IPI shall enter into further exchanges of written submissions where justified by the circumstances.
Article 23 paragraphs 1 and 2 shall apply mutatis mutandis for the cancellation of a trade mark registration on the grounds of non-use of the trade mark.
The IPI may suspend proceedings if the decision on the cancellation depends on the outcome of civil proceedings or other proceedings.
If the request for cancellation is submitted before the expiry of the time limit under Article 35 a paragraph 2 TmPA and Article 50 a of this Ordinance or if the cancellation fee is not paid on time, the request shall be considered not to have been filed. No charges shall be incurred; any cancellation fee that has already been paid shall be reimbursed.
If a proceeding becomes groundless or is settled or withdrawn, half of the cancellation fee shall be reimbursed. If the requirements under Article 33 b of the Federal Act on Administrative Procedure of 20 December 1968 54 (APA) are fulfilled, the fee shall be fully reimbursed. 55
Before the term of validity expires, the IPI may remind the right holder entered in the Register, or their representative, about the date of expiry and the possibility of renewal. The IPI may also send such notifications abroad.
The application for renewal of a trade mark registration may be submitted, at the earliest, twelve months prior to the expiry of the term of validity. 58
The renewal takes effect on expiry of the previous term of validity.
The IPI shall provide the proprietor of the trade mark with a confirmation of the renewal of the registration. 59
The renewal fee must be paid within the time limits under Article 10 paragraph 3 TmPA. 60
If the renewal fee is paid after the expiry of the term of validity, a surcharge must be paid. 61
If an application for renewal has been submitted and it does not result in the renewal of the registration, the renewal fee shall be reimbursed.
The request for registration of the assignment must be made by the former proprietor of the trade mark or the acquirer and must include:
... 64
The request for the registration of a licence must be made by the proprietor of the trade mark or by the licensee and must include:
For the registration of a sub-licence, paragraph 1 applies. In addition, it must be proven that the licensee is authorised to grant sub-licences.
As long as an exclusive licence is entered in the Register, no other licences that are incompatible with the exclusive licence shall be entered in the Register for the same trade mark. 65
On the basis of an appropriate declaration by the proprietor of the trade mark or another satisfactory document, the IPI shall register:
On the request of the proprietor of the trade mark, the IPI shall cancel a right registered in favour of a third party if an express waiver by the holder of this right or another satisfactory document is presented.
Incorrect register entries shall be rectified without delay at the request of the trade mark proprietor.
If the error results from an oversight by the IPI, it shall be rectified ex officio.
Partial or full cancellation of the trade mark registration is free of charge. Cancellation on the grounds of non-use is not free of charge.
The IPI shall maintain a dossier for each application for registration and each trade mark registration, containing the following:
The regulations for a guarantee or collective mark or the regulations for a geographical mark must also be included in the dossier. 69
Official documents of evidence that disclose manufacturing or trade secrets shall be filed separately on request. This will be noted in the dossier. 70
... 71
Prior to the registration of the trade mark, the dossier may be inspected by:
The persons named in paragraph 1 may also inspect the files relating to applications for registration that have been withdrawn or rejected.
Anyone may inspect the dossier after the trade mark has been entered in the Register, provided that the publication has not been deferred.
The IPI shall make a decision regarding the inspection of separately filed official documents of evidence (Art. 36 para. 3) following consultation with the proprietor of the trade mark.
On request, the files to be inspected shall be issued in the form of copies. 72
The IPI shall retain the originals or copies of the files of completely cancelled register entries for five years following the cancellation.
The IPI shall retain the originals or copies of the files of withdrawn, refused or fully revoked registrations (Art. 33 TmPA) for five years following the withdrawal, refusal or revocation. 75
... 76
The entry of a trade mark in the Register shall include:
Where applicable, the registration shall also include the following:
In addition to the date of publication, the following shall be entered in the Trade Mark Register:
The IPI may enter other information of public interest.
Anyone may inspect the Trade Mark Register.
The IPI shall issue extracts from the Trade Mark Register. 88
The IPI will prepare a priority document for a Swiss first filing on request.
The IPI shall publish:
The IPI shall determine the organ of publication.
On request and subject to a fee, it shall make paper copies of data that has only been published electronically.
The application for international registration of a trade mark or of an application for registration must be submitted to the IPI if Switzerland is the country of origin as defined in Article 1 paragraph 3 of the Madrid Agreement of 14 July 1967 95 concerning the International Registration of Marks (Madrid Agreement) or as defined in Article 2 paragraph 1 of the Protocol of 27 June 1989 96 relating to the Madrid Agreement concerning the International Registration of Marks (Madrid Protocol). 97
Either a form from the International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) or a form approved by the IPI must be used to file the application. 98
If an application that is otherwise formally valid contains all the information required, the IPI may waive the requirement to submit the form. 99
The IPI shall determine the language in which the goods and services for which the trade mark or the application for registration is claimed must be indicated. 100
The national fee (Article 45 paragraph 2 TmPA) must be paid at the request by the IPI. 101
If an application filed with the IPI does not fulfil the formal requirements of the TmPA, this Ordinance or the Common Regulations to the Madrid Agreement of 18 January 1996 102 and the Madrid Protocol, or if the prescribed fees are not paid, the IPI shall set the applicant a time limit to remedy the deficiency. 103
If the applicant does not remedy the deficiency within the time limit, the IPI shall refuse the application. The IPI may set further time limits in exceptional cases.
The IPI shall maintain a dossier for each internationally registered trade mark with Switzerland as the country of origin.
... 104
In the case of an opposition to an international registration, the opposition period under Article 31 paragraph 2 TmPA shall begin on the first day of the month following the month of publication in the organ of publication of the International Bureau of WIPO. 105
The IPI shall maintain a dossier in which the stages of the opposition proceedings are recorded.
... 106
The request for cancellation of an international registration on the grounds of non-use may be filed at the earliest:
If the opposition is based on an international registration which is the subject of a provisional refusal of protection by the IPI, the IPI may suspend the decision on the opposition until a final decision on the refusal of protection has been taken.
If the international registration lapses and a conversion into a national application for registration is possible in accordance with Article 46 a TmPA, the IPI may suspend the decision on the opposition until the conversion has taken place. 108
The following applies for internationally registered trade marks:
The IPI shall not publish the refusal of protection nor the invalidation.
This Chapter regulates the use of indications of source for:
For foodstuffs, the Ordinance of 2 September 2015 110 on the Use of Swiss Indications of Source for Foodstuffs as well as Articles 52 c and 52 d of this Ordinance apply.
In this Ordinance:
If goods or services fulfil the legal criteria of origin for Switzerland as a whole, they may be labelled with a reference to a region or place in Switzerland. They must fulfil additional requirements if:
It is prohibited to misuse any flexibility in applying the criteria when determining the place of origin of a product or service.
The following, in particular, constitute misuse:
The following costs are considered as manufacturing costs under Article 48c paragraphs 1 and 2 TmPA:
Costs incurred after the conclusion of the production process are not considered to be manufacturing costs.
Research costs include the costs for product-related research and non-product related research.
Development costs are the costs which are incurred from the conception of the product up until it is market-ready.
Product-related research costs and development costs are directly allocated to the manufacturing costs of the product.
Non-product related research costs are allocated to the manufacturing costs of the individual products by a suitable allocation key.
The research and development costs may be allocated to the manufacturing costs following the end of the depreciation period customary in the industry. The amount allocated corresponds to the average annual depreciation of the research and development costs during the depreciation period customary in the industry.
Material costs include direct and indirect material costs.
Direct material costs are the material costs which are directly attributable to a product.
Indirect material costs are considered to be material costs not covered by paragraph 2, in particular, costs incurred for temporary storage or transport during the production process.
The direct material costs are allocated to the manufacturing costs of the product using a standardised method of calculation, in particular, according to one of the following calculation methods:
The indirect material costs shall be allocated, by suitable means, to the manufacturing costs of the individual products.
The costs for auxiliary materials do not need to be allocated to the manufacturing costs if:
If a material is not available in sufficient quantities in Switzerland according to publicly accessible industry information, the manufacturer may assume that they are permitted to exclude the costs of materials purchased abroad, up to the indicated unavailability rate, from the calculation of the manufacturing costs.
The production costs consist of direct production costs and indirect production costs.
Production costs include, in particular:
Direct production costs are directly allocated to the manufacturing costs of the product.
Indirect production costs are allocated to the manufacturing costs of the individual products by a suitable key.
Manufacturing costs incurred abroad may be converted into Swiss francs as follows:
A place of effective administration under Article 49 TmPA is presumed to be the place where:
The application for the international registration or the amendment of the international registration of an appellation of origin or a geographical indication whose geographical area of origin lies on Swiss territory must be filed with the IPI.
Either a form from the International Bureau of WIPO or a form approved by the IPI must be used to file the application.
The application must be filed in French.
The IPI shall maintain a dossier for each application.
The IPI shall decide whether the application for international registration or the amendment of an international registration meets the requirements under the TmPA, this Ordinance and the Geneva Act and its Regulations.
If an application does not meet the requirements or if the prescribed fees have not been paid, the IPI shall set the applicant a time limit to remedy the deficiency.
If the applicant does not remedy the deficiency within the time limit, the application shall be refused. The IPI may set further time limits in exceptional cases.
Applications invoking a ground under Article 50eparagraph 1 TmPA and applications in accordance with Article 50e paragraph 4 TmPA may be submitted:
Applications must be submitted in writing to the IPI within three months of the publication of the international registration by the International Bureau. The time limit shall begin on the first day of the month following the publication in the organ of publication of the International Bureau of WIPO.
Articles 20–24 apply by analogy.
The IPI may invite the affected federal and cantonal authorities to comment.
Swiss watches and watch movements as defined in the Ordinance of 23 December 1971 112 on the Use of the Designation «Swiss» for Watches must display the identification mark of the manufacturer. On watches, the identification mark must be placed on the case or on the dial.
The producer identification mark must be clearly visible and permanently affixed. Instead of the producer identification mark, the company name or a trade mark owned by the manufacturer may be affixed.
It may only be used for Swiss products.
The Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry FH issues the producer identification marks and maintains a corresponding register.
The grounds for refusal under Article 3 paragraph 1 TmPA also apply to producer identification marks.
This chapter applies to assistance where goods are brought into or taken out of the customs territory that unlawfully bear a trade mark or an indication of source.
A small consignment is a consignment that contains a maximum of three units and has a gross weight of less than five kilogrammes.
The proprietor of the trade mark, the licensee entitled to institute proceedings, the person entitled to use an indication of source or a party (applicant) entitled to institute proceedings under Article 56 TmPA must submit the application for assistance to the FOCBS.
Once the FOCBS has received the application in full, it shall decide on it within 40 days.
The approved application is valid for a period of two years unless a shorter period of validity is requested. It may be renewed.
If the FOCBS detains goods, it shall hold them in safekeeping for a fee or place them in the safekeeping of a third party at the cost of the applicant.
It shall provide the applicant with the name and address of the declarant, holder or owner, a precise description, the quantity, and the sender of the detained goods.
If the consignment is small and it has been destroyed under the simplified procedure, the FOCBS shall inform the applicant of the quantity and type of goods destroyed and the sender.
If it is established prior to the expiry of the time limit under Article 72 paragraph 3 or 4 TmPA that the applicant is unable to obtain preliminary measures, the goods shall be released immediately.
If the detained goods are in a small consignment, the FOCBS shall assign responsibility for carrying out the procedure to the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property (IPI) and hand the goods over to the IPI or a third party designated by the IPI for safekeeping.
If the IPI is the applicant, the FOCBS shall remain responsible.
The applicant may request that specimens or samples be handed over or delivered for examination or that the goods be made available for inspection.
Instead of specimens or samples, the FOCBS may provide the applicant with photographs of the withheld goods if these enable the applicant to assess the goods.
The request may be submitted with the application for assistance to the Directorate General of Customs or, while the goods are being withheld, directly to the customs office that is withholding the goods.
The declarant, holder or owner of the goods may request the FOCBS to refuse to take specimens or samples. The request must be substantiated.
The FOCBS shall inform the declarant, holder or owner of the goods of the option stipulated in paragraph 1 and set an appropriate time limit.
If the FOCBS permits the applicant to inspect the detained goods, it shall take appropriate consideration of the interests of the applicant and the declarant, holder or owner when determining the date of inspection.
The FOCBS shall hold the specimens or samples in safekeeping for one year from the date of notifying the declarant, holder or owner that the goods are being detained. After this time limit expires, it shall request the declarant, holder or owner to take possession of the specimens or samples or bear the costs of their continued safekeeping. If the declarant, holder or owner does not comply with the request or does not respond within 30 days, the FOCBS shall destroy the specimens or samples.
Instead of collecting specimens or samples, the FOCBS may take photographs of the destroyed goods, provided this serves the purpose of preserving evidence.
The authorities responsible for providing assistance are authorised to process the following personal data and data of legal entities that concern persons involved in the movement of goods into or out of the customs territory or in the provision of assistance where the said data processing is for the purposes set out in Articles 70–72i TmPA, in particular in connection with the processing of applications for assistance, notifications of suspicious consignments, the detention or destruction of goods and the taking or delivery of specimens and samples:
If the IPI is responsible for carrying out the procedure, the FOCBS shall provide it with the necessary data in accordance with paragraph 1.
The authorities responsible may store the data for as long as required for the purpose of processing, but for no longer than five years after the period of validity of an application for assistance has expired or the assistance has been provided.
Time limits set by the IPI that are running on the day this Ordinance comes into force shall remain unchanged.
For the filing of a trade mark in accordance with Article 78 paragraph 1 TmPA, the date on which use of the trade mark commenced shall be entered in the Trade Mark Register and published.
If it concerns an internationally registered trade mark, the relevant information must be provided to the IPI by the end of the month of publication of the international registration; the date on which the use of the trade mark commenced shall be entered in a special register and published.
Products manufactured before the commencement of the Amendment of 2 September 2015 may be placed on the market for the first time with an indication of source that complies with the law in force only until 31 December 2018.
Until the organ of publication of the International Bureau of WIPO is operational, the IPI shall publish the international registrations of appellations of origin and geographical indications whose protection on Swiss territory has been requested in the Federal Gazette.
This Ordinance comes into force on 1 April 1993.