What exactly is a certification mark?
A certification mark is a special type of trademark, the purpose of which is to distinguish goods and services from their competitors by certifying the quality or uniqueness of the manufacturing process, material composition, or other special characteristic. An important difference compared to a traditional trademark is that the proprietor is not entitled to use the certification mark themselves; they can only license its use to other, independent market players, either for free or for a fee.
How can a certification mark be created?
Only a proprietor who is a market player independent of the goods and services to be certified can create one. Thus, for example, a Ltd. engaged in carpet trading cannot be the proprietor of an "original Persian carpet" certification mark.
If the proprietor meets this condition, a set of technical specifications must be created, which must specify the following:
- the proprietor's details,
- the name and representation of the certification mark,
- the class of goods or services for which the certification can be obtained,
- the conditions that the individual goods or services must meet to obtain the certification,
- the conditions for monitoring the certification,
- and the steps the trademark proprietor will take against unauthorized trademark users.
What benefits does a certification mark offer our company?
As mentioned earlier, the proprietor can license the use of the certification mark for consideration to market players who comply with the regulations. Thus, the proprietor can generate regular income from the use of the certification.
Furthermore, a well-established and respected certification mark can positively shape the given market segment, as more and more market players will try to meet the expectations laid down in the regulations in order to obtain it.
As a market player, why is it worth displaying a certification mark on goods or services?
A respected certification mark (e.g., Excellent Hungarian Food Product) can make a product or service stand out from its competitors, contribute to building brand recognition, and help foster esteem and trust in its user among consumers, thereby providing a competitive advantage over its competitors.
If you need assistance with the registration of certification marks, please contact our office!
