Collective Marks

Different types of trademarks

In Austria and the EU, trademarks are categorised into three types based on their functions:

• the individual mark, which identifies the origin of goods and services from a specific company;
• the certification mark, which as explained in our November 2024 newsletter, ensures that a product meets certain requirements or has certain characteristics;
• and the collective mark, which is the topic of our article today.

What exactly is a collective mark?

The collective trademark serves to distinguish the goods or services of a member of an association from the goods and services of non-members. Its function is based on the association membership of the person responsible for the product. A collective mark can therefore only be registered by associations or legal entities under public law, such as regional authorities or chambers.