Abbreviations are more often used in establishing brand identity and distinguishing entities within intellectual property law. Nonetheless, certain abbreviations enjoy legal protection under specific legislation, such as the Swiss Federal Act on the Protection of Names and Emblems, which safeguards designations affiliated with intergovernmental organizations like the United Nations. Notably, abbreviations like FIDA, UNICEF, WIPO, EPO, among others, may be safeguarded, thus prohibiting their unauthorized commercial exploitation.
In a recent case, we assisted one of the Swiss market leaders in quality product certification with overcoming a similar circumstance. Initially, our client’s application included a protected abbreviation, hence we encountered setbacks as the Office cited legal restrictions regarding the registration of trademarks containing protected abbreviations under Swiss law. Subsequently, we diligently pursued multiple avenues to secure registration for the acronym. Despite presenting compelling arguments initially, it became necessary to opt for refining and enhancing the brand name. Eventually, we achieved success in obtaining combined protection for the full name together with the abbreviation, ensuring the integrity and exclusivity of the brand.